UPDATE 1-S.Korea pushes back at Trump claims about more money for troop agreement
"They were paying about $500 million for $5 billion worth of protection," Trump said. "And we have to do better than that. So they've agreed to pay $500 million more." Under the previous agreement - which lapsed amid disagreements in December - South Korea contributed 960 billion won ($857 million) in 2018.
South Korean and American officials initialled an agreement on Sunday under which Seoul would increase its contribution to just under 1.04 trillion won ($927 million), an increase of about $70.3 million. Kim Eui-kyeom, a spokesman for the presidential Blue House in Seoul, said when asked about Trump's $500 million figure that it "shouldn't be taken as a fait accompli".
Washington demanded during the negotiations that South Korea pay 50 percent more than its 2018 contribution, according to South Korean officials. The new agreement amounts to an increase of about 8 percent. The agreement signed on Sunday must still be approved by South Korea'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 South Korea's contribution.
Trump said in his cabinet comments on Tuesday the relationship with South Korea was "great" but that the United States lost "a tremendous amount of money" defending its ally. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith Editing by Paul Tait)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- North Korea–South Korea relations
- South Korea
- President of South Korea
- Donald Trump
- Donald Duck
- Seoul Taco
- Seoul Metropolitan Subway
- Seoul National University
- Tickets For Troops
- This Is Us
- Basketball Official
- Paul Tait
- Tait Paul Dr
- Seoul
- troops
- country
- US
- Kim Euikyeom
- Blue House
- Washington
ALSO READ
Japan is giving Washington 250 new cherry trees to replace those to be lost in construction work
Defense relationship part of US-Iraq talks in Washington next week, US official says
Kishida delights Washington with promise of 250 cherry trees as independence gift
Defense relationship part of US-Iraq talks in Washington next week, US official says
Foreign Secy Vinay Kwatra bolsters India-US relations on Washington visit