The United States is unlikely to cut back its forces in South Korea even if former U.S. President Donald Trump wins re-election, the South's minister tasked with matters related to neighboring North Korea said in a television interview, Paralel.Az reports citing Reuters.

In the interview transmitted on Saturday, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho told broadcaster KBS this was because the U.S. Congress had already decided the matter in a defense bill it recently passed.

"One of the concerns many people have is... the issue of any withdrawal of U.S. troops from Korea" if Trump is re-elected, Kim said.

But December's National Defense Authorization Act says the U.S. administration requires congressional approval to scale back the 28,500 troops in South Korea, Kim said.

Strengthening ties between the United States, South Korea and Japan would help overcome any political changes in the U.S., he added.