U.S. continues military pact with S. Korea

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The United States has promised that it would send more soldiers to South Korea in the event of a military threat, officials said.

Officials from both countries released a statement Friday at the end of the 40th Security Consultative Meeting in Washington, The Korea Times reported.

South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that the agreement remains in force until South Korea has full capacity to defend itself.

The agreement calls for U.S. military forces stationed in South Korea to be reinforced by 690,000 personnel, 2,000 planes and 160 military vessels in the event of war.

U.S. troops have been based in South Korea since the truce that ended the Korean War more than 50 years ago.