American troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula serve purposes beyond deterring North Korea, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) stated this week, stressing the need to maintain U.S. ground forces in the country to counter threats from China and Russia.

Speaking at the Land Forces Pacific (LANPAC) Symposium in Hawaii on Thursday, Gen. Xavier Brunson explained that U.S. troops stationed in South Korea play a vital role in overcoming the “tyranny of distance,” which he described as a major challenge to military operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region.

Brunson pointed out South Korea’s strategic location, calling it “the closest