Trump hasn't sought options to reduce troops in South Korea: White House

US President Donald Trump has not sought any options from the Pentagon to reduce the presence of American troops in South Korea, the White House confirmed today.

The New York Times has reported that Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare options for drawing down American troops in South Korea ahead of a landmark meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un.

"The President has not asked the Pentagon to provide options for reducing American forces stationed in South Korea," US National Security Advisor John Bolton said in a statement.

"The New York Times story is utter nonsense," he said.

The United States currently has some 28,000 troops based in South Korea.

"Reduced troop levels are not intended to be a bargaining chip in Mr Trump's talks with Mr Kim about his weapons programme," the daily said quoting unnamed administration official.

It said president argues that America is not adequately compensated for the cost of maintaining them, and also that the troops are mainly protecting Japan and that decades of American military presence had not prevented the North from becoming a nuclear threat.