South Korean Negotiator Calls USFK Cost Sharing Talks “Difficult”

It looks like the Trump administration is remaining committed to keeping their promise of making the ROK government pay more for the upkeep of USFK:

This photo, provided by the foreign ministry, shows South Korea’s chief negotiator, Chang Won-sam (R), shaking hands with his U.S. counterpart, Timothy Betts, in Honolulu, Hawaii on March 7, 2018. (Yonhap)

The negotiations to renew South Korea and the United States’ deal on defense cost sharing are likely to be a “difficult” path, the top South Korean negotiator said Monday following the inaugural round of talks last week.

The allies kicked off the first round of the talks in Honolulu, Hawaii, last Wednesday to renew their five-year Special Measures Agreement governing Seoul’s share of the upkeep of the 28,500 American forces stationed in South Korea for defense against the North.

In the three-day “exploratory” talks last week, the two sides discussed at the “rudimentary level” the contributions each has made to the development of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the positions they have over the next defense cost sharing deal, a senior government official said in a background briefing.

“Both sides shared the understanding that the current negotiations should be led in a way that intensifies the combined defense posture and further develops the South Korea-U.S. alliance,” the official said.

He noted they are likely to be “difficult negotiations,” adding that the allies may take several rounds of talks to reach a new agreement. His comments hint that the allies had wide differences as they entered into the negotiations, especially after President Donald Trump’s repeated call to raise South Korea’s share of the defense financing.  [Yonhap]

You can read more at the link.

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flyingsword
flyingsword
6 years ago

if Soutj Korea doesn’t want to pay more for its own defense, why should the US. if Korea won’t pay US needs to give its 1 year notice and leave. then korea can figure it out for themselves.

Rascal1212
Rascal1212
6 years ago

Expect the US to get screwed. We are poor negotiators looking for win-win.
SK likes only to win. As I have said before whatever is agreed too is only a step. Getting SK to actually make payment is another issue. “If it’s Korean” “If the lips are moving” “If it’s about money”
“IT’S A LIE!!!!!!!!”

setnaffa
6 years ago

Rascal1212, how is Pyongyang these days?

J6Junkie
J6Junkie
6 years ago

Show me the money Moon! Or it’s going to Pyongyang for the summit.

Rascal1212
Rascal1212
6 years ago

Currently about 52% agreed to. “Holy Stomach Ache, Batman!!!.” A ROKG promise to pay, is just a promise to be broken. Actual disbursement…that’s a question that should be asked.
SETNAFFA….Please direct your question to MJI.

setnaffa
6 years ago

Rascal1212, I just wanted to point out the people who most want a ROK/USA split live in Norkistan… There are a lot of crappy politicians (in every country); but if you think all Koreans are liars, you’re not being honorable (regardless of who burned you and how). You can do a lot better than that.

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