ACCESSION NUMBER:333813
FILE ID:POL202
DATE:03/22/94
TITLE:DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, TUESDAY, MARCH 22 (03/22/94)
TEXT:*94032202.POL
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, TUESDAY, MARCH 22

(Perry trip, Korea/Patriot missiles) (400)
NEWS BRIEFING -- Deputy Spokesman Dennis Boxx discussed the following
topics:


PATRIOT MISSILES EN ROUTE TO SOUTH KOREA

President Clinton has signed an order to deploy Patriot anti-missile
missiles to South Korea, beginning a four-week to six-week deployment plan
by the Pentagon, the deputy spokesman said.

"This is not a crisis situation," Boxx said, noting the missiles will be
carried to South Korea by ship, which will take weeks.  U.S. military
commanders asked for the defensive Patriot batteries last December.

According to Boxx, the Patriots are a significantly improved version of
those used in the Persian Gulf war in 1991.

Asked about recent North Korean troop movements, Boxx said the shifts are
part of Pyongyang's annual winter deployments and "The level of activity is
normal for this time of year."

The movements "may even increase" at the brigade and divisional levels in
the next few days as the winter bivouacs end.  It is "difficult to tell
whether the increase...is a result of a reaction to current situations or a
normal part of their training, but we will watch it very carefully," he
added.

Meanwhile, the operational readiness of U.S. troops in South Korea has "not
changed," he declared.

No decision on has been made yet regarding the joint maneuvers of U.S. and
South Korean troops.  "We will be discussing with the South Koreans the
possibility of rescheduling that" next month, he said.

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