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US Plans to Deploy Next-Generation Multi-Domain Task Force to Korean Peninsula, Reports Say

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The United States plans to deploy several hundred personnel from a Multi-Domain Effects Battalion to the Korean Peninsula, according to South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo.
  • The unit handles cyber, information and space operations and would reinforce US Forces Korea while deterring North Korea and countering China’s regional military posture.
  • US officials aim to complete the deployment this year, but US Forces Korea referred questions about formal notification to the US War Department.

The United States has decided to move part of a next-generation Multi-Domain Task Force to the Korean Peninsula and has begun consultations with the South Korean government, South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo reported.

The deployment would involve the Multi-Domain Effects Battalion from the second MDTF, a formation responsible for European defense. Several hundred troops from the battalion are expected to reinforce US Forces Korea. The US Army wants to complete the deployment this year.

We hope to deploy an MDTF in South Korea.

— Xavier BrunsonThe US Forces Korea and South Korea-US Combined Forces Command chief previously expressed support for deploying the task force.

The MDTF is a rapidly deployable force built to operate across land, maritime, cyber and space domains. Its creation aims to counter the anti-access and area-denial strategies used by China and Russia to restrict US forces’ entry and movement in their spheres of influence. The planned deployment has been interpreted as serving two purposes: deterring North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and constraining China.

What keeps me awake at night is how to fight on the Korean Peninsula without critical and credible combat capabilities.

— Xavier BrunsonBrunson explained his concern about the capabilities available for operations on the Korean Peninsula.

The Multi-Domain Effects Battalion can track adversary activity through reconnaissance satellites, space sensors, drones and over-the-horizon radar. It integrates that information with military intelligence and signals intelligence to assess conditions in a theater of operations. The unit is also reportedly capable of cyberattacks, electronic warfare, space operations and psychological warfare.

The unit reportedly moving to South Korea previously operated from Wiesbaden, Germany. Military experts said its early-warning capabilities could serve as the “eyes and ears” of the US Army’s Eighth Army and 2nd Infantry Division’s 210th Field Artillery Brigade, which operates M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and Army Tactical Missile Systems. US Forces Korea, asked whether it had formally notified Seoul, said questions should be directed to the US War Department.

Please ask the US War Department about this matter.

— US Forces KoreaThe command gave the response when asked whether it had formally notified the South Korean government.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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