South Korea, US make no progress in defense cost-sharing talks
(VOVWORLD) - South Korea and the US failed to proceed with the latest round of their defense cost-sharing negotiations as planned amid Washington's demand for a sharp increase in Seoul's payments, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
After the two-day negotiations, the ministry issued a press release, hinting that the latest talks over the sharing of the cost for stationing the more than 28,000-strong US Forces Korea (USFK) broke down. The report said South Korea will do its utmost to take a fair share at a reasonable level that contributes to strengthening the South Korea-US alliance and the combined defense posture. Reports said the US has demanded South Korea pay nearly 5 billion USD next year to cover expenditures related to the allies' combined military exercises and support for the USFK troops' families.