Yoon Sang-hyun: "The Issue of Defense Cost-Sharing Will Ultimately Be Passed to the President's Line"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Yoon Sang-hyun, Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said on the 22nd, "I speculate that the issue of the South Korea-US defense cost-sharing will eventually be passed on to the president, who is the 'top negotiator'."

After a closed-door meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held that morning at the National Assembly with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification, Chairman Yoon told reporters, "There might be some other kind of deal, but since this topic was not discussed in the recent call between the South Korean and US presidents, it will ultimately be passed on to the president."

He stated, "Our government believes that the current 13% increase proposal is the best option, and even if President Trump opposes it, there is no reason to immediately engage in negotiations," adding, "The decision will be made by the NSC (National Security Council) of the Blue House and the White House."

Regarding rumors about the health of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, he pointed out, "The Ministry of Unification said they have not detected any unusual movements inside North Korea, but if not attending the Taeyangjeol (Day of the Sun) memorial or the Supreme People's Assembly since coming to power is not an unusual movement, then what is?" He also said, "There should be a response from North Korea regarding the reports on his health, but the lack of any response is also an unusual movement."

Eight members of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, including Chairman Yoon, attended the meeting, and only Representative Lee Seok-hyun from the Democratic Party of Korea was present. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul did not attend. Regarding this, Chairman Yoon criticized in his opening remarks, calling it "a very regrettable act that disregards the National Assembly and the people."

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