Why are we helping South Korea?

Because we are required by treaty to do so:

“The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in October 1953, two months after the end of the Korean War, has guaranteed South Korea’s national security. The security alliance counts as one of the most important of America’s alliances, not only serving to deter another North Korean attack on South Korea, but also providing a continental base for U.S. forces to face China and Russia and to provide a front-line defense for Japan. The alliance has also augmented South Korea’s military forces and provided a nuclear umbrella, thus enabling the South Koreans to pursue economic progress with relatively low military budgets.”

The Brookings Institute

We may not have free trade, but we do have an important trading partner in S. Korea. Also, the US is committed to protecting democracy everywhere for our important trading partners or for those who control access to important resources.

The U.S. is the very definition of a co-dependant, always meddling in others affairs while neglecting their own serious issues. lol

Because the US hasn’t learned the smart art of minding our own damn business.

We sign agreements and spend trillions of dollars to protect a country that won’t allow us to import beef, or other products while flooding our country with everything they can make. How is this an equitable arrangement. Protecting democracy Seriously?

Time for these countries to pony up…. If they don’t want to pay for defense then they should build their own. They have progressed rather nicely thanks to the efforts of our country. Time to pay for it now that they are a stable country.

I don’t mean just the South Koreans, the same should apply to all coutries (including germany). If you want protection pay for it, otherwise see ya!

It is a beach head for a ground invasion of china when WW3 starts.

@ragingloli

We are currently bombing Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, and soon possibly North Korea. I think WW3 has already begun.
@marinelife
Does the treaty still stand if South Korea performs War Games very close to North Korea territory and instigates a response similar to what happened?

“While the South accused the North of instigating Tuesday’s exchange, South Korean officials did confirm that southern forces were conducting a military exercise in the region at the time — part of an annual nationwide military exercise involving 70,000 troops, including an unknown number of Americans.

But the South Koreans insisted the exercises took place at least 20 km south of Yeonpyeong, and in no way provoked northern forces.”

Seriously, this is the result of not settling a stupid war 60 years ago. South Korea is a wealthy, industrialized nation. Let them run their own damn war. Besides, they don’t even have any oil.

thank you @Mamradpivo thats what I’m saying. and @chris6137 you forgot to mention soon to come Iran.

They have 70,000 troops and we have to pay taxes to protect the 38th parallel, but we Americans can’t sell our goods without restrictions or tarriffs. Somethings not right here @wundayatta why are we always quick to pay for our duty to protect Democracy throughout the world but not our duty to protect the starving right here on our own soil! WTF!!!

We give billions of aid to North Korea everytime they bomb or set off a nuclear weapon so as to keep them calm and their populace subjugated. Where is the Quid Pro Quo? How can we continue in the face of this economy. In the face of 15 million people looking for work, in the face of pourous borders, in the face of unsecured cargo, In the face of 50 million uninsured, to spend untold billions to secure someone elses safety? Especially when they clearly have the resources to do it, or pay for it themselves.

Some people are fickle and will complain about oil prices in the same breath they accuse the US of going to war for oil.

Our treaty came about as a result of the Korean War which ended in 1953. Our reason for going to war was to contain communism, otherwise known as the Truman Doctorine (accused as a bit of a silly idea, but I believe overall noble). The Korean war was a rough war with many momentum swings (check out the interactive map on wikipedia about how the battle lines moved), had the US had more foresight, we would have crushed the North Korean resistance following the Inchon Landings, however McArthur’s hubris forced China (a newly formed Communist State) to play it’s hand.
1. Being in Korea helps us continue a decade old policy of resisting the spread of communism.
2. Being in Korea allows us to have bases near our “frienemy” China and Russia.
3. We have a treaty there as @marinelife has stated.
4. Providing resistance to the new powers in North Korea is important to keep the meglomaniac father from dumping on a democratic ally.

@thekoukoureport although your politics are abysmally selfish, i do concur. Let NATO deal with the issue not America. North Korea has got to get real, the glorious revolution is never ever heading south, and visa versa, but the countries need reconciliation, sovereignty and democratic socialism as a compromise. Something like China but much less Fascist and more democratic.

Ending an alliance when there’s trouble would be a total diplomatic disaster.

Ending an alliance or reminding them that the American tax payer has been resposible for the freedoms and economic growth that they have been able to afford their citizenry. With that growth we as American Citizens would just like the opportunity to sell in a competative market . Giving their citizenry the freedom to purchase American made products.

How is that selfish? I am just suggesting that they should grant us the same freedoms that we have granted them. Free trade, particularly with the country that has saved them from one of the most repressive regimes in the world. These one way arrangements are at our exspense that to me is a diplomatic disaster.

Hell If you live in Oakland the cops won’t come to your house for a non life threatening crime. No money! But we pay to protect countries that can take care of themselves or at least afford to kick in for the bill. Entire towns have died in America as Donald, George and Dick closed bases across the country.