Jeong Eun-bo "Differences Remain on Comprehensive Defense Cost Agreement... Efforts Underway to Derive Creative Alternatives"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Jeong Eun-bo, the Special Representative for the ROK-US Defense Cost-Sharing Negotiations, said on the 13th (local time), "There are differences in opinions regarding a comprehensive agreement on defense cost-sharing between Korea and the US. We are making efforts to come up with creative alternatives."

Jeong Eun-bo, Defense Cost-Sharing Negotiation Ambassador, Departing for Defense Cost-Sharing Talks
Photo by Yonhap News

Jeong arrived in the US on the same day for the 6th round of the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on defense cost-sharing between Korea and the US. Since the 10th agreement expired at the end of last year, there is currently a gap in the agreement.

Considering this situation, Jeong told reporters at Dulles Airport near Washington DC, "We are narrowing down opinions on various issues, but it is also true that there are still differences in opinions regarding reaching a comprehensive agreement." Before departing for the US, Jeong had stated that there was progress in the defense cost-sharing negotiations.

Jeong explained, "Both sides are making great efforts to create creative alternatives," adding, "Since the negotiations are not based on only one aspect, there are many mutual compromise efforts." The Korea-US sides are scheduled to hold the 6th round of negotiations over two days starting from the 14th.

Regarding the negotiation principles, Jeong said, "We aim to maintain the framework of the SMA and produce mutually acceptable negotiation results," and added, "We will work to minimize the gap in the agreement through a prompt conclusion."

Although US President Donald Trump publicly pressured an increase in defense cost-sharing by stating in an interview with Fox News on the 10th that "South Korea paid an additional $500 million," Jeong was not greatly concerned. Jeong mentioned, "Since President Trump has mentioned this issue multiple times, I do not think there has been a significant change in the situation."

The Korean government maintains the position that costs outside the SMA framework, such as the costs for rotational deployment of US Forces Korea and the deployment of strategic assets, which the US demands, are not subject to discussion. Regarding the $5 billion cost-sharing amount reportedly requested by the US side, the government remains firm on the principle that only negotiations at a level acceptable to the public are possible.

Amid Korea’s firm stance, James DeHart, the US chief negotiator, showed some flexibility after the 5th round of negotiations held in Seoul at the end of last year, stating, "The $5 billion is not the amount we are focusing on."

Ultimately, as the Korea-US chief representatives mentioned that the differences in positions are narrowing, attention is focused on how much the gap can be reduced in this round of negotiations.

In particular, the key issue is how much the dispatch of troops to the Strait of Hormuz and the purchase of US weapons can be linked to these negotiations. Jeong also said, "We believe that the contributions we have already made as allies should be fairly evaluated."

Separately from the defense cost-sharing negotiation venue, discussions on the dispatch of troops to the Strait of Hormuz are expected between the Korea-US foreign ministers. On the 14th, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will hold a Korea-US foreign ministers’ meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in San Francisco, where they are expected to share opinions with the US side regarding joint defense of the Strait of Hormuz. Before departing for the US, Minister Kang said, "The government is still reviewing the matter," and added that she would listen to the US side’s thoughts.

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