Cooper, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary, "Defense Cost-Sharing Talks Underway"... Emphasizes Again "America Was Flexible"

Avoided Direct Answer on $1.3 Billion Counteroffer to South Korea... "Just a Fragment of Negotiations"
"Both South Korea and the U.S. Continue Efforts to Reach an Acceptable Point"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The U.S. Department of State reiterated that negotiations on the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) for the Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing are ongoing and emphasized the flexibility shown during the talks.

Clark Cooper, U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs, stated in a virtual briefing on the 14th (local time), "The negotiations have not actually been suspended," adding, "We have clearly confirmed that we are very flexible in adjusting ourselves through the negotiations."

The U.S. side reportedly rejected the tentative agreement reached by the Korea-U.S. working-level teams for a 13% increase and counter-proposed $1.3 billion. The counter-proposed amount is more than 50% higher than last year's defense cost-sharing amount. Nevertheless, this explanation is interpreted as the U.S. side once again emphasizing the flexibility shown in lowering their initial demand from $5 billion to $1.3 billion.

Regarding the progress of negotiations after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that South Korea agreed to a significant increase in defense costs, effectively assuming mutual agreement, Cooper explained, "Although there is no visible dispute or dialogue between Seoul-Washington and the Foreign Ministry, negotiations are ongoing," adding, "We have come a long way since starting negotiations a year ago. All parties have continued communication through multiple channels."

Cooper avoided giving a direct answer about the reportedly counter-proposed $1.3 billion. He responded, "There have been some disputes exposed outside government channels," calling them "fragments of the negotiations."

He added, "It still seems necessary to reach a point acceptable to President Moon Jae-in and President Trump," and "We will continue efforts related to this." This is interpreted as a period where the judgments and decisions of the two heads of state have become more important beyond consultations between the Korea-U.S. working-level teams.

In this regard, a diplomatic source said, "It can be seen as a situation where (the negotiations) are temporarily paused," emphasizing, "There is no change in the (South Korean government's) principle of reasonable and fair cost-sharing."

Meanwhile, regarding questions about the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in North Korea, Deputy Assistant Secretary Cooper said, "There is no place on Earth unaffected by the pandemic." When asked whether North Korea accepted U.S. aid, he replied, "I do not know," adding, "There is a difference between not actively accepting our offer and not responding." It is interpreted that it is more likely that North Korea did not respond rather than outright rejecting the offer.

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