I have to wonder if the Moon administration is going to try and tie how much the ROK is willing to pay for the upkeep of USFK to the outcome of the Kim-Trump Summit?:
In this file photo taken on April 11, 2018, South Korea’s chief negotiator Chang Won-sam (L) speaks with his U.S. counterpart, Timothy Betts, in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, in their meeting to renew the cost-sharing agreement for American troops stationed in South Korea. (Yonhap)
South Korea and the United States are expected to hold a new round of talks next week in their ongoing negotiations over the costs for U.S. troops stationed here, a source close to the matter said Monday.
According to the source, both countries are currently discussing details about schedules and location after they decided to hold the talks next week. The source added that Washington D.C. could be the venue for the meeting.
The talks are led by Chang Won-sam, a career diplomat who was appointed in mid-November to head the negotiation team, and Timothy Betts, deputy assistant secretary for plans, programs and operations at the U.S. State Department.
It will be the third round of negotiations. The two sides previously met in Honolulu, Hawaii, in March and in Seogwipo on Jeju Island last month.
The latest meeting comes after the New York Times reported that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to consider reducing American troops in South Korea. Although the U.S. government denied the report, some speculated that it could be a move to put more pressure on South Korea to shoulder more of the costs. [Yonhap]
I want to know how much the summit cost South Korea. After 60+years of getting off on the cheap, South Korea should pay everything.
The true cost won’t come out until Moon goes to jail for it.