While the military cost sharing talks are
still ongoing between Seoul and Washington,...
the Pentagon has reportedly proposed plans
to the White House to cut the number of troops
in Korea.
Jang Tae-hyun reports.
The Pentagon has given options to the White
House regarding potential cuts to U.S. military
in South Korea.
According to the Wall Street Journal on Friday,
the Trump administration is weighing a reduction
in the number of U.S. troops in South Korea.
There are 28-thousand and 500 troops stationed
in the country.
The discussion is due to friction over the
hosting costs of U.S. military in the South.
Seoul agreed to pay nine-hundred-26 million
U.S. dollars in 2019, but the following year,
the U.S. demanded a fivefold increase in payment.
The negotiations are still ongoing.
However, Trump administration officials said
that no decision has been made about cutting
troops.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday
that in a few months, they will start going
over relocation issues of their military in
areas like the Indo-Pacific.
This comes after a similar case in Germany,
where controversy also arose regarding military
costs.
Trump ordered the removal of 95-hundred U.S.
troops stationed in Germany last month.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Armed
Services Committee Adam Smith said that U.S.
military in South Korea is needed to prevent
the North from taking military action.
The Voice of America reported that during
a video conference on Friday, he said that
collaboration between the U.S. and South Korean
military stopped war from happening.
And, the chairman wants to maintain this relationship.
Smith said (quote) the "Trump administration
has been very aggressive, trying to push South
Korea to pay even more."
He added that Washington is not doing a favor
for Seoul, but is investing in world peace
and security.
Jang Tae-hyun, Arirang News.
