Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
US Eighth Army chief says its role should extend beyond threats in Korea
US Eighth Army commander Joseph Hilbert says his forces should not focus only on threats in Korea.
The Eighth Army commands US ground forces stationed in South Korea, where they have traditionally focused on deterring North Korea.
Hilbert says being based in South Korea does not rule out other missions, and that the force trains to deploy wherever US leaders direct.
He cited multinational exercises across the Asia-Pacific as an example of activity beyond the peninsula.
The Trump administration wants a wider regional role for US forces in Korea, including as part of efforts to counter China, according to the account of its policy.
A US defense strategy says South Korea should take primary responsibility for deterring North Korea, with the United States providing important but more limited support.
That shift could give US forces greater flexibility in the Indo-Pacific, a region that includes the first island chain from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines and the South China Sea.
U.S. Eighth Army commander Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilbert said his troops should be ready for missions beyond the Korean Peninsula.
He called it “irresponsible” to focus only on threats on the peninsula or to rule out other missions because forces are based in South Korea.
Hilbert said the Eighth Army trains daily with South Korean allies against its principal threat while staying ready for other tasks the United States may require.
His remarks come amid U.S. efforts to expand the strategic flexibility of forces stationed in South Korea, including for broader Indo-Pacific deterrence.
The Pentagon said U.S. forces in Korea remain focused on readiness, deterring aggression and defending South Korea.
- Who
- Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilbert, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army.
- What
- He said his troops should be ready for missions beyond the Korean Peninsula. He said it would be irresponsible to focus only on threats there.
- When
- The remarks were reported on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Hilbert commands the U.S. Eighth Army in South Korea.
- Why
- He said trained, ready forces should be available for whatever missions the United States requires.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The U.S. National Defense Strategy said South Korea could take primary responsibility for deterring North Korea with critical but more limited U.S. support.
Yonhap reported Hilbert’s remarks from an email interview with the South China Morning Post.
- Commander
- Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilbert
- Unit
- U.S. Eighth Army
- Location
- South Korea
- U.S. strategy document
- National Defense Strategy released in January 2026
- Stated readiness approach
- Largely threat-agnostic
4 sources
What people are saying
We view readiness as largely threat-agnostic.
So, we train every day with our Korean allies against our principal threat, while also ensuring we remain available and ready for whatever the nation may require
The United States remains firmly committed to the defense of the Republic of Korea and to fulfilling our obligations under the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty.