U.S. to move troops out of S. Korean capital

HONOLULU -- The United States will move all of its troops out of metropolitan Seoul over the next three years without reducing the total number of forces in South Korea, both countries have agreed.

Under a historic plan to end a U.S. presence in the capital dating to the end of the Korean War, about 7,000 U.S. forces and their families will be moved to an expanded facility about 45 miles south of Seoul, U.S. defense official Richard Lawless said.

Lawless said the move is expected to be completed by the end of 2006.