[originaltext] The United States has proposed withdrawing about 1/3 of Americ

The United States has proposed withdrawing about 1/3 of American troops from South Korea by the end of next year as part of a realignment of forces under discussion with authorities in Seoul. More from VOA correspondent Alex Belida:
   The Pentagon confirms that a senior U.S. defense official has presented South Korean authorities with what is termed a "concept proposal" for the withdrawal of 12,500 troops from the Peninsula by the end of next year. There are about 37,000 U.S. troops in South Korea now. The senior official, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Richard Lawless, unveiled the proposal in talks Sunday in Seoul. Mr. Lawless made clear the 1/3 cut in the U.S. force in South Korea will include a brigade being transferred to Iraq later this year. That move involving 3,600 troops was announced last month. At the time, it was unclear whether the soldiers would return to South Korea at the conclusion of their Iraqi tour. Alex Belida, VOA news, the Pentagon.