Like I said before signing a new cost sharing deal would be a simple win for the Biden administration. The reported 13% rise allows the administration to say they were able to get the ROK to pay more when the Trump administration with their hardline tactics could not:
The United States and South Korea are just weeks away from coming together on a new cost-sharing deal for stationing 28,500 U.S. troops on the peninsula, CNN reported Wednesday.
The report, which cited five anonymous sources familiar with the discussions, said the contract taking shape is a multiyear deal that increases Seoul’s contribution by about 13%.
Stars & Stripes
You can read more at the link.
It is an amazing phenomenon that it appears only U.S. military training causes noise and not ROK military training. It is kind of like how American radars are supposedly dangerous and Korean ones are not:
A planned live-fire exercise involving Apache attack helicopters of the U.S. Forces Korea has been suspended following noise and other complaints from residents near the firing range in the southeastern city of Pohang, officials said.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission said the drill, which had been scheduled to begin on Tuesday and continue until next month, will be suspended while a mediation procedure is under way with residents near the Suseong firing range in Pohang.
“As the live-fire drill cannot be suspended for a long time, we expect the commission’s prompt and reasonable mediation,” defense ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan said during a regular press briefing.
Earlier, some 2,800 residents living near the range filed a petition with the agency calling for the cancellation of the exercise and closure of the facility, citing noise and vibration caused by the exercise.
Yonhap
You can read more at the link.
As expected, it appears the Biden administration is going to fast track a new cost sharing agreement with South Korea:
The United States is committed to quickly reaching a defense cost-sharing agreement with South Korea that will be acceptable to both and help strengthen their alliance, an official from the U.S. Department of State said Friday.
Korea Times
The remarks came after Seoul officials said the sides agreed to seek an early conclusion to talks on Seoul’s share of the cost in maintaining 28,500 U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula in a meeting held Friday (KST).
“We decline to comment on or confirm any specific details of our ongoing diplomatic conversations, but I can tell you that U.S. and ROK negotiators agreed to continue negotiations in the near future and are committed to expeditiously concluding an updated Special Measures Agreement (SMA) that will strengthen our alliance and our combined defense posture,” the department official told Yonhap News Agency in an emailed response to related questions.
You can read more at the link, but getting a new cost sharing agreement signed should be an easy win for the Biden administration.
Here is some good news for service members in Area IV:
Clusters of new cases at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul and at Humphreys prompted weeklong lockdowns starting Jan. 15 while health authorities tracked down potentially infected individuals.
“Area IV’s record of success — including low confirmed cases, zero on-installation positive cases since April 2020, and their reduction of the threat to the community — have contributed to USFK’s decision to adjust its HPCON level to Bravo in Area IV,” USFK commander Gen. Robert Abrams said in the release.
The last USFK case reported in the area involved a service member’s dependent who tested positive on April 25 after returning from a trip to the United States.
Stars & Stripes
You can read more at the link.
Here is the latest coronavirus infections in USFK:
Nine USFK-affiliated individuals tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 29 and Feb. 4.One U.S. service member stationed at K-16 Air Base in Seongnam, tested positive on Jan. 29 after providing a screening sample as part of USFK’s enhanced surveillance testing program.Five U.S. service members stationed at Camp Casey and one U.S. service member stationed on Camp Carroll, each tested positive on Feb. 4 after providing a screening sample as part of USFK’s enhanced surveillance testing program.One ROK service member, who is assigned to a combined US-ROK unit stationed on U.S. Army Garrison – Humphreys, tested positive on Feb. 4 during his mandatory test required to exit quarantine.
The spouse of a U.S. service member assigned to U.S. Army Garrison – Humphreys and has access to the installation, tested positive on Feb. 4 during her mandatory test required to exit quarantine. All individuals are currently in isolation at a USAG – Humphreys facility designated for confirmed COVID-19 cases.
USFK Facebook page
You can read more at the link.
The coronavirus issues within USFK has continued to spread, now to Kunsan Airbase:
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on Friday imposed movement restrictions on all individuals affiliated with its air base in the western city of Gunsan due to the recent coronavirus outbreak there.
Korea Times
Under the order, travel to and from Kunsan Air Base is prohibited until Monday, though members can be granted exceptions “to perform assigned and authorized duties and missions only,” USFK said in a Facebook post.
The directive came a day after three service members on the base tested positive for COVID-19.
One service member was confirmed to have been infected, then two of his colleagues tested positive after coming into direct contact with him, according to U.S. military.
Up until Friday, USFK had reported a total of 648 COVID-19 patients among its population.
USFK also has enforced a “shelter in place” directive through Sunday that calls on service members at the Yongsan garrison in central Seoul to stay at home except for necessary activities.
You can read more at the link.
