US demands 50% increase in S. Korea's defense contribution

[soryang]

US demands 50% increase in S. Korea’s defense contribution
Posted on : May.8,2020 18:22 KST Modified on : May.8,2020 18:22 KST
Hankyoreh By Hwang Joon-bum, Washington correspondent, and Noh Ji-won, staff reporter

The Trump administration in the US has asked South Korea to increase its yearly financial contribution to stationing US troops to US$1.3 billion (about 1.59 trillion won), the Hankyoreh has confirmed. That would be about 50% more than South Korea paid last year as part of its Special Measures Agreement (SMA) with the US. Since the US’ latest offer is still a considerable distance from the 13% increase proposed by Seoul, the chances of the two sides striking a deal on the 11th SMA remain low.

A senior official in the US government responded to a query by the South Korean press on May 7 by explaining that the US had asked Seoul to provide about US$1.3 billion in yearly funding. That’s about 50% more than the 1.04 trillion won (US$853.3 million) to which the two sides agreed in their 10th SMA last year.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/944206.html

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Korea and Japan Marc Knapper has to submit to Trump's absurd negotiating tactics. South Korea doesn't, and Moon Jae-in's much improved negotiating position is strong enough to outlast Trump.