The Pentagon said Wednesday that it is not currently looking at moving military dependents, spouses and children, from South Korea despite a plea by a prominent U.S. senator to do so amid soaring tensions with North Korea over its nuclear arms and missile programs.
The Department of Defense "currently has no intent to initiate departures for military dependents, whether on a voluntary or mandatory basis, and no intent to modify the policy authorizing military dependents to accompany military members being stationed in South Korea," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Chris Logan said in an emailed statement to The Japan Times.
The warning by Sen. Lindsey Graham on Monday came as the U.S. kicked off a massive five-day joint aerial exercise with South Korea involving 12,000 U.S. personnel and more than 230 aircraft from both countries, including advanced U.S. stealth fighter jets.