With the growing importance of the East Asia and Pacific regions, the United States government and military have been shifting their focus placing greater emphasis there. Home to more than 1.5 billion people and some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, the region is also seeing a rise in military power and competition.

In 2012, the Obama administration emphasized the importance of the East Asian region and declared that the U.S. would pivot there, both in economic and military terms, for the purpose of supporting its alliances in this region. The U.S. military has been making changes as a result of the pivot, many of which have affected Korea.