ROK dismisses Trump claims about more money for U.S. troops

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Republic of Korea (ROK)'s presidential Blue House pushed back on Wednesday against comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that suggested Seoul had agreed to pay 500 million U.S. dollars more toward maintaining U.S. troops in the country.

Trump said at a cabinet meeting in Washington on Tuesday Seoul had agreed to pay 500 million U.S. dollars more as part of an agreement sharing the cost of keeping roughly 28,500 American troops stationed in the ROK.

“They were paying about 500 million U.S. dollars for five billion U.S. dollars' worth of protection,” Trump said. “And we have to do better than that. So they've agreed to pay 500 million U.S. dollars more.”

Under the previous agreement – which lapsed amid disagreements in December – South Korea contributed 960 billion won (857 million U.S. dollars) in 2018.

ROK and U.S. officials initialed an agreement on Sunday under which Seoul would increase its contribution to just under 1.04 trillion won (927 million U.S. dollars), an increase of about 70.3 million U.S. dollars.

Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesman for the presidential Blue House in Seoul, said when asked about Trump's 500 million U.S. dollars figure that it “shouldn't be taken as a fait accompli.”

Washington demanded during the negotiations that the ROK pay 50 percent more than its 2018 contribution, according to ROK officials. The new agreement amounts to an increase of about eight percent.

The agreement signed on Sunday must still be approved by the ROK's parliament. Kim said it was valid for only one year, with the possibility of an extension for another year if both sides agreed.

“Both sides will consider whether a raise is needed and it's also possible that they would agree to maintain the current level,” Kim said.

The two sides had struggled to reach a breakthrough, despite at least 10 rounds of talks since March, amid Trump's repeated calls for a sharp increase in ROK's contribution.

Trump said in his cabinet comments on Tuesday the relationship with the ROK was “great” but that the United States lost “a tremendous amount of money” defending its ally.

(Cover image: U.S. Special Representative for the DPRK Stephen Biegun (L) meets with ROK's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha at the foreign ministry in Seoul, February 9, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters