Bolton calls media report on "U.S. seeking troop reduction" in S. Korea "utter nonsense"

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has not asked the Pentagon to prepare options for reducing the number of U.S. troops in South Korea, U.S. National Security adviser John Bolton said on Friday.

Bolton's repudiation came a day after a New York Times article reported that Trump was looking for options to scale back the number of U.S. troops in South Korea.

"The New York Times story is utter nonsense," Bolton said. "The president has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea."

U.S. troops have been stationed in South Korea since the signing of the Korean War armistice agreement in 1953.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula eased significantly following a summit last week between the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Kim is to meet with Trump in May or early June. The location and date for the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit has yet to be announced. Enditem