The United States has agreed to delay its troop withdrawal from South Korea and will leave attack helicopters and other crucial equipment in place to deter Stalinist North Korea, the allies said Wednesday.
Under a new deal the United States will move ahead with plans to pull out 12,500 troops, one third of its forces in the country. But the deadline has been pushed back to 2008, three years later than originally scheduled.
The deal eased growing jitters among South Koreans about a possible security gap from the abrupt withdrawal of US soldiers, who have played a key role in deterring any attack from North Korea since the 1950-53 Korean War.
The number of US troops to leave includes 3,600 already transferred to Iraq this summer, who will not return to South Korea.
"The United States has made clear that it remains committed to the defence of (South Korea), to the security and stability of the region and to a strengthened (South Korea)-US alliance," according to a joint statement.
Washington has also scrapped plans for the pullout of key military equipment targeting North Korea's heavy artillery.