US- ROK Military Cost Sharing Dispute Resolved for Now

[soryang]

(Source- JTBC News 2.3) US Ambassador Harry Harris and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa met February 3, to remove an element of tension in the US-South Korean alliance before talks with North Korea.

In the face of the imminent working level talks between US Special Representative Stephen Biegun and North Korean Ambassador Kim Hyok Chol, the US and South Korea appear to have settled their dispute over the shared costs for maintaining US armed forces in South Korea.

The official announcement is expected this week. JTBC news reported that an agreement to settle the military cost sharing matter for this year was reached in order to present a solid unwavering alliance in the face of denuclearization negotiations between the US and North Korea at the working level expected this week. Last night Arirang News reported that the initial US- DPRK meeting could take place as early as February 4, at Panmunjeom. The US also did not want give the impression that US troop withdrawals were on the table.

JTBC news reported earlier today that an anonymous source from the South Korean foreign ministry communications office said the figure arrived at is one trillion won (about $894 million US). This is the figure South Korean negotiators said earlier they could not exceed because a greater amount would not be approved by the National Assembly. Initially, a figure as high as two billion dollars a year over the usual 5 year term of the agreement was demanded by the US negotiators. During the campaign President Trump had accused the South Korean government as being among allies "getting a free ride," from the United States. Anonymous inside sources said the final demand of the US negotiators on cost sharing was 1,150,000,000 won but it appears that the South Korean side held fast. In return, the South Korean side appears to have agreed that the settlement is only for one year, rather than the usual 5 year term. So negotiations will begin again near the end of 2019.

JTBC reported that US Ambassador Harry Harris, met today with the South Korean Defense Minister, Jeong Kyeong-doo, and later with ROK Foreign Minister, Kang Kyung-hwa, to display the firmness of the alliance.