First US-ROK Defense Cost-Sharing Talks This Year Confirm Only Differences... Ambassador Jeong Eun-bo: "No Discussion of Hormuz Deployment in Negotiations"

Jung Dae-sa "Need to Resolve Differences, Persuade Alliance Contribution Including Arms Purchases"
US Department of Defense "Cost-Sharing Returns to Korean Economy" Indirect Pressure

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The first South Korea-US defense cost-sharing negotiations of the year ended with only differences confirmed. Although President Moon Jae-in and Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min made remarks suggesting 'progress in the negotiations,' the first talks held after the defense cost-sharing agreement lapse failed to find any notable common ground between the two sides. It was also confirmed that there was no discussion at all regarding the deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz linked to defense cost-sharing, which had been raised by some.

After concluding the negotiations and heading home, Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea's chief negotiator for the defense cost-sharing talks, met with reporters on the 16th (local time) at Dulles Airport in Washington DC. Regarding Noh Young-min's statement that significant consensus had been reached in the defense cost-sharing negotiations, Jeong said, "New issues tend to arise during the negotiation process," adding, "What constitutes a significant level can vary depending on the person, so from our standpoint, we are striving to reach an agreement as soon as possible to minimize the gap in the agreement."

Jeong conducted negotiations with James DeHart, the US State Department's chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing, over two days from the 14th to 15th (local time) in Washington DC to conclude the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA). This negotiation was the sixth meeting held for the first time amid a gap in the agreement following the expiration of the 10th SMA at the end of last year.

Although the South Korea-US delegations engaged in negotiations exceeding 12 hours over two days, the US side appears to have continued to demand additional burdens such as costs for rotational deployment on the Korean Peninsula and costs for out-of-area training, which were added to the existing SMA. The US has consistently argued that the defense cost-sharing amount should be significantly increased by emphasizing the need to bear additional costs for rotational deployment and out-of-area training.

Jeong said, "We are moving toward a resolution, but overall, since the agreement must be made at a level mutually acceptable to both parties, there is still a need to resolve differences." When asked if common ground was being found, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "We are discussing how to creatively find solutions that allow both sides to coexist."

Coincidentally, on the same day, the US Department of Defense indirectly pressured South Korea to increase defense costs, supporting the US position. Jonathan Hoffman, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense, said in a briefing regarding questions about the defense cost-sharing negotiations, "Korea's contributions return to the Korean economy through goods and services." The US is warning of unpaid leave for Korean workers supporting US Forces Korea. Hoffman's remarks were interpreted as a message that the US might use Korean workers as leverage if the agreement is not reached.

Furthermore, he emphasized that there was no discussion on scenarios such as the deployment of South Korean troops to the Strait of Hormuz or the inclusion of defense ministry project costs related to specific weapons projects, which had been raised by some. There were no talks outside the SMA framework during the two days of negotiations.

When asked if there was any discussion about deploying South Korean troops to the Strait of Hormuz, Jeong replied, "No," adding, "There is nothing being discussed except for alliance contributions and related matters." He further stated, "There is no discussion about specific weapons projects or reflecting them in defense ministry budgets," and regarding the possibility of future linkage, he added, "We are continuously explaining to the US side about weapons purchases to receive a fair evaluation related to alliance contributions."

As both sides reaffirmed their existing positions, the possibility of an early agreement is becoming increasingly slim. This is due to fundamental differences in the broad principles between the two sides. The seventh round of defense cost-sharing negotiations is scheduled to be held in Seoul. A Foreign Ministry official explained, "We agreed to closely consult to minimize the gap in the agreement through a prompt conclusion of a mutually acceptable agreement and to contribute to the South Korea-US alliance and combined defense posture," adding, "The schedule for the next meeting will be discussed through diplomatic channels."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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