The Blue House was responding to questions about a column written by a South Korean presidential adviser and academic, Moon Chung-in, which was published earlier this week.

Moon Chung-in said it would be difficult to justify the presence of US forces in South Korea if a peace treaty were signed. 

However, Seoul wants the troops to stay because US forces in South Korea play the role of a mediator in military confrontations between neighbouring superpowers such as China and Japan, another presidential official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

Moon Chung-in was asked not to create confusion regarding the president’s stance, Mr Kim, the Blue House spokesman, said.

The presidential Blue House was responding to questions about an opinion article written by South Korean presidential adviser and academic Moon Chung-in that was published Monday.

“What will happen to U.S. forces in South Korea if a peace treaty is signed? It will be difficult to justify their continuing presence in South Korea after its adoption,” the former Yonsei University professor said in an article published in the U.S. magazine Foreign Affairs.

Seoul wants the troops to stay because U.S. forces in the South play the role of mediator in times of military tensions between neighboring powers such as China and Japan, another presidential official was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity.

Presidential adviser Moon was asked not to create confusion about the president’s stance, Blue House spokesman Kim said.