The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that the United States military will send 800 additional troops to South Korea in February.
Soldiers from the U.S. Army, armored tanks and vehicles from the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment will be send to Hovey and Stanley camps, located near the demarcation line that separates North Korea from the South, the Agence France Presse reported.
The move "is part of our rebalance to the Pacific," Pentagon spokesperson Colonel Steven Warren stated, which will "allow for greater responsiveness to better meet theater operational requirements," according to a statement from the Department of Defense headquarters.
The military is reportedly planning to deploy extra ranks to shore up defenses against Pyonyang, the Pentagon reported.
"This is a plus-up," Warren added, saying that the military was planning to make a strategic move in the Asia-Pacific region, AFP reported.
There are currently 28,500 American troops in South Korea - Tuesday's announcement is thought to show the United States' unease toward the actions of the DPRK.
South Korea agreed to have all wartime operational command of troops transferred over from the U.S. beginning 2015, but issues with Pyongyang have forced Seoul officials to extend the plan.
