[20210526]IF10165_韩国：背景和美国关系.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated May 26, 2021South Korea: Background and U.S. RelationsOverview South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, or DPRK). The alliance also helps the United States promote its interests in East Asia and around the globe, including by deploying ROK troops to U.S.-led military conflicts in the Middle East. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK. The economic relationship is bolstered by the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). In 2020, South Korea was the United States seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States was South Koreas second-largest trading partner, behind China. In May 2021, President Joseph Biden and ROK President Moon Jae-in met in Washington, DC. During their summit, Biden and Moon discussed North Korea policy, stated their shared values on many issues pertaining to China, and ter