'Defense Cost-Sharing Talks' Extended Over Year Resume in Washington on 14th, Ambassador Jeong Eun-bo: "Certain Progress Made, Striving for Swift Resolution"

Jeong Eun-bo, the Special Representative for U.S.-Korea Defense Cost-Sharing Talks, is briefing on the U.S.-Korea defense cost-sharing negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 19th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Jung Eun-bo, the South Korea-US defense cost-sharing negotiation ambassador, stated that he will strive for a swift conclusion to the negotiations.

On the 13th, while departing for Washington DC, USA, where the 6th meeting for the conclusion of the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost-sharing between South Korea and the US will be held, Jung met with reporters at Incheon International Airport and said, "We will work to reach a negotiation conclusion at a level that our people can accept as soon as possible."

Jung will participate in the SMA negotiations scheduled for the 14th to 15th (local time). The negotiation team will include the South Korean team led by Jung and the US team led by James DeHart, the US State Department's chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing.

Jung explained, "Although there are still differences in positions, through the discussion process so far, we have expanded mutual understanding and made some progress."

More specific discussions are expected regarding the large gap in the scale of the defense cost-sharing increase and alliance contributions. Regarding the scale of the defense cost-sharing increase, Jung dismissed concerns by stating, "The US is also expanding its understanding during discussions about the South Korean government's position to maintain the existing SMA scope."

Furthermore, concerning alliance contributions, which the US cites as justification, Jung emphasized, "Our principle is that negotiations must be conducted within the existing SMA scope, and we have stressed that indirect and direct contributions to the alliance outside of this scope should be fairly evaluated." He added, "Details such as which specific weapons to purchase are not matters to be discussed during the negotiation process."

Regarding concerns about delays in negotiations, he emphasized a swift conclusion. If the South Korean and US negotiation teams fail to reach a conclusion by the end of March, the US Forces Korea will be unable to pay wages to Korean workers employed by the US Forces Korea starting in April.

Jung responded, "South Korea and the US share the recognition that we are working to prevent economic problems for Korean workers through a swift conclusion."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.