Gates Cautious on North Korean Threat

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, listens to his South Korean counterpart Kim Jang-soo's speech during a joint press conference after the 39th Security Consultative Meeting at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (Lee Jin-man - AP)

Gates visit to South Korea is the second stop in a three-country swing through the region. He was in China earlier this week, and will go next to Japan.

During the defense meetings here, Gates also told Kim that, "after more than 50 years, U.S. commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea is firm and unwavering."

He added that while efforts to improve the alliance are improving, "we still have a lot more work to do."

"It is my expectation that we will continue to play a role in the security of the peninsula for a long time, including past 2012," Gates said.

So far, 23 of the U.S. camps _ vestiges of the 1950-53 Korean War _ have been transferred as part of a broader plan to have Seoul take over its own wartime command by 2012. There are 40 more to go.

The number of U.S. troops in Korea _ which was about 37,500 three years ago _ has dipped to 28,000 and will end up at about 25,000 when the consolidation is complete. The South Korean military numbers about 680,000.

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