A ROK Drop favorite, David Maxwell recently had this to say in The Hill about the cost sharing negotiations between the US and South Korea:
Trump seems not to recognize that the ROK makes significant contributions to its own defense. In 2017, 2.7 percent of its GDP went to defense — a higher percentage than any member of NATO except the U.S. Furthermore, the ROK’s 2018 defense budget increased by 9.9 pecent, or $40 billion, the largest in history. It has an active force of 625,000 troops with 28,000 Americans stationed in South Korea. Under the current SMA, the ROK covers half of the roughly $1.6 billion basing cost for American troops, but according to reports, Trump wants Seoul to pay 100 percent. Yet South Korea already covers more than just annual basing costs. The recently expanded Camp Humphreys is now the largest U.S. military base outside of the continental U.S. It cost some $10.7 billion and the ROK provided 90 percent of the funds. The ROK government also agreed to a renegotiated Korea-U.S Free Trade Agreement, in response to pressure from Trump. Finally, from 2012 through 2016 the ROK purchased $19.8 billion in U.S. military equipment through Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales. It is essential for both sides to remember that the primary purpose of the alliance is to prevent war.
Here are the thoughts from retired U.S. Army Colonel David Maxwell on a recent article in the National Interest about ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton:
John Bolton
Regardless of what you think about Ambassador Bolton I find it incredible that he actually “wants” war with north Korea (or with any country). We should not confuse the call for ensuring all military options are on the table with “wanting” to go to war. We need all military options on the table as the best way to support deterrence.But we need to beware of the press, pundits, and politicians who want to revert to “appeasing” north Korea (yes some talk about an arms control process or an action for action process or the relief of sanctions in return for a promise to conduct negotiations).
All use the same flawed assumption that Ambassador Bolton took to task yesterday regarding Kim’s sincerity to actually denuclearize. Ambassador Bolton can be criticized for much and may be wrong in many areas but he is not wrong when he says this: under current circumstances Kim Jong-un will not give up his nuclear weapons program.
Which have been greater: the anti-Abe or anti-Moon protests? I have heard there were massive anti-Moon demonstrations that the administration controlled broadcast media did not report. https://t.co/118yQUvhtZ
Study this photo. Note the truly evil eyes of Kim and Putin. Wonder what they are plotting to do to try to undermine the US and our way of life? pic.twitter.com/AYb3hKgHZ3
Via a reader tip comes the below video of a conference held recently by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) think tank. The conference featured a number of ROK Drop favorites such as Dr. Tara O, Joshua Stanton from One Free Korea, David Maxwell, and Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt.
A lot of great points were made by the speakers during the conference. For example Dr. O points out the jailing of conservative media figures and how the ROK media is suppressing coverage of anti-Moon administration protests. For example below is a picture of a protest that was not covered by the media. She even discussed an example of how Kim Jong-un could become the President of South Korea if a confederation is created.
Dr. Tara O discusses freedom of speech in the ROK.
Joshua Stanton also provided a lot of great examples of how Korean politicians have suppressed the media though it is in overdrive now.
More satire. north Korea always has to one up everyone and in this case showing off their advanced fax technology. I do not know why they have to do this with a state radio speaker in every home so they can hear directly from their dictator. https://t.co/NxWf47HbPS
And the right of self defense is more fundamental than the Amristice. All anations have the right to defend themselves. Although I was oposed to the CMA in 2018 for the lack reduction in north Korean threat, I would not withdraw from it now – ROK maintain the moral high ground.
