According to the poll carried out by the Chicago Council Survey on Global Affairs, 62 percent of respondents favor the use of US forces for defending South Korea, marking a 15 percent increase from 2015.
Between 1990 and 2016, public opinion on this matter has been steadily rising, with only a few years experiencing a downturn in support for the idea of stationing US troops in South Korea. However, for the first time in these 27 years, support for the move is represented by a majority of US citizens.
The poll specified that exactly three-quarters of US citizens consider Pyongyang's nuclear program as a critical threat facing their country, which is a 15 percent increase from last year and a 20 percent increase from 2015.
The situation on the Korean Peninsula has become aggravated in recent months due to a series of missile launches and nuclear tests conducted by Pyongyang, all of which are claimed to be in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. On July 4 and July 28, Pyongyang conducted tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles in violation of previous UNSC resolutions. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the latest launch on July 28 was successful with the missile having reached the altitude of 3,725 kilometers (2,314 miles) and traveled 998 kilometers for about 47 minutes before falling in the Sea of Japan. Following the July's launches, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted on Saturday Resolution 2371, which further tightens sanctions against North Korea.
