Trump, "South Korea Rejects Proposed Defense Cost-Sharing" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump stated in response to a question about whether he negotiated with President Moon Jae-in on reducing U.S. forces in South Korea, "We are negotiating with President Moon and South Korea to have them financially support us."

President Trump said this on the 20th (local time) during a briefing of the COVID-19 task force. He also mentioned, "We rejected the cost-sharing proposal presented by South Korea." Earlier, a foreign media outlet reported that the South Korean government proposed a 13% increase in defense cost-sharing to the U.S., but President Trump rejected it.

On the same day, President Trump repeatedly expressed his stance that "South Korea is a wealthy country and past negotiations were unfair," and voiced dissatisfaction by saying, "(We) are spending huge resources to protect allies in the Middle East and elsewhere."

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