Trump, "North Korea's Missile is a Positive Factor for Defense Cost Increase"

If $5 Billion Defense Cost Is Not Received, Withdrawal of US Forces in Korea Demanded

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Donald Trump, President of the United States (face), threatened to withdraw U.S. troops if South Korea did not pay $5 billion for the cost of stationing U.S. forces in Korea, former White House National Security Council (NSC) advisor John Bolton revealed. Bolton added that President Moon Jae-in pushed back against Trump’s pressure.

In the manuscript of his memoir "The Room Where It Happened - The White House," which was pre-released ahead of its publication on the 23rd, Bolton claimed, "President Trump explicitly pressured South Korea to significantly increase its defense cost-sharing for U.S. forces in Korea during the U.S.-South Korea summits held in Washington D.C. on April 11 and in Seoul on June 30 last year."

According to his memoir, during the U.S.-South Korea summit working lunch held at the White House on April 11 last year, President Trump brought up the issue of U.S. military bases in Korea after discussing the North Korean situation and U.S.-South Korea trade issues.

At that meeting, Trump explained, "South Korea exports TVs to the U.S., causing the U.S. to lose $4 billion annually," and "the U.S. spends $5 billion annually on the stationed bases." The $5 billion matches the amount initially demanded by the U.S. side in the defense cost negotiations.

Trump reportedly said that other countries proposed to pay considerably more and argued that South Korea should also be more willing to step up in the next phase of negotiations. However, Bolton noted that Trump expressed a desire to protect President Moon and felt great respect for him. Bolton described this remark as "an attempt to curry favor with President Moon."

President Moon reportedly responded to Trump’s pressure by saying, "Many Korean companies are investing in the U.S.," and explained that "Trump’s expectations regarding base costs are too high." Bolton claimed that Moon told Trump, "South Korea spends 2.4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense."

At the U.S.-South Korea summit held at the Blue House on June 30 last year, Trump suddenly raised the issue of the cost of U.S. military bases in Korea again. That day was scheduled for a meeting with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un at Panmunjom. Bolton wrote, "President Trump loves South Korea but said the U.S. loses $20 billion annually in trade with South Korea," adding, "Because of this, some suggested imposing tariffs on South Korea, but Trump rejected it due to his relationship with President Moon."

Bolton also revealed that after visiting South Korea and Japan in July of the same year for defense cost-sharing negotiations and returning to Washington D.C. to report the results, Trump instructed using the withdrawal of U.S. troops as leverage. Trump reportedly directed, "The way to get $8 billion (from Japan) and $5 billion (from South Korea) is to threaten to withdraw all U.S. troops." He added, "That will put you in a very strong negotiating position."

In particular, after receiving additional reports on North Korea’s missile launches, Trump openly said, "This is a good timing to demand money," and "John (Bolton) brought in $1 billion this year, but because of the missiles, we will get $5 billion," according to Bolton.

Bolton also recounted that Trump said, "Since we do not own the land, the U.S. should not bear property taxes on the land for defending South Korea," and "If the situation becomes peaceful, we will probably leave." Although he added the condition "if the situation becomes peaceful," this can be seen as pressuring for increased defense costs while hinting at the possibility of withdrawing U.S. troops from Korea.

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