Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung acknowledged at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the government could not prevent the United States from deciding to move some military equipment stationed in South Korea to support missions in the Middle East. This follows reports that the US is shifting its Patriot air defense and missile systems for use in a Middle Eastern conflict.

According to Thai News Agency, South Korean leaders stated that while the government opposes the plan, in practice South Korea is not in a position to demand or force the United States to stop moving these weapons, which include artillery and air defense equipment. However, President Lee affirmed that the reduction of some US military equipment will not affect South Korea's North Korean deterrence strategy, as South Korea has a high defense budget and conventional military capabilities that are clearly superior to North Korea's.

Earlier, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun revealed that the militaries of both countries were discussing the relocation of Patriot missile systems. Meanwhile, local media reported that some missiles had been launched from Osan Air Base for deployment to US bases in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, although South Korean authorities have not yet confirmed the exact destination.

Currently, the United States has approximately 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea to cooperate with the South Korean military in defending against aggression from nuclear-armed North Korea. This comes amid concerns among analysts that the US focus on conflicts in the Middle East could create a security vulnerability in Asia, particularly during a period when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced a rapid expansion of his nuclear arsenal and declared South Korea his "most threatening enemy."