According to Reuters, Brunson told a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 21 local time that "we have not moved any THAAD systems" and that THAAD "is still on the peninsula." He said the military is preparing for a forward movement of munitions and noted that it has previously forward-deployed the radar. Brunson said some equipment has not yet returned, but the THAAD system itself has not been relocated.
Brunson also said the process of repositioning equipment at Osan Air Base to prepare for munitions movement contributed to confusion. He indicated the controversy grew after details of certain assets and munitions operations became public, not because a battery was withdrawn.
On the transfer of wartime operational control, Brunson reaffirmed a conditions-based approach, saying the decision should be guided by the combined defense posture, operational capability and the security environment rather than political judgment or a set timetable.
On the future posture of U.S. forces in South Korea, he said capability matters more than troop numbers, emphasizing what forces can actually be deployed and operated over the size of the force alone.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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