"Kim Jong-un Wants USFK to Stay... Trump Hopes for Reduction"

Pompeo "Kim Never Mentioned USFK"
US Hopes to Play Role in Checking China
Trump Mentions Korea Trade Deficit, Hopes to Reduce USFK

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] It has been understood that Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, did not mention the issue of U.S. Forces Korea during contacts with the United States. The U.S. side is presumed to have hoped for the stationing of U.S. Forces Korea as a measure to check China.

According to part of Bob Woodward's new book "Rage," revealed on the 12th (local time), U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized that Chairman Kim never raised the issue of U.S. Forces Korea in talks or correspondence with the U.S. This means that in three North Korea-U.S. summits and 27 letters, the issue of U.S. Forces Korea was never mentioned.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Woodward reported that Secretary Pompeo concluded that Chairman Kim wanted the stationing of U.S. Forces Korea because he plays a role in checking China.

On the other hand, the book introduces a circumstance where President Trump suddenly brought up the reduction of U.S. Forces Korea when his aides opposed the imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum.

According to Rage, in 2017, while President Trump was considering imposing tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, he said, "We will impose tariffs on all steel and aluminum coming into (the U.S.)," mentioning the trade deficit with South Korea and stating, "The whole world is taking advantage of us," and insisted, "Now is the time to change."

President Trump then said, "I really want to leave South Korea," and added, "The U.S. pays the cost of stationing 30,000 troops to protect South Korea from North Korea." According to Rage, President Trump even uttered profanity, saying, "We (the U.S.) are a piggy bank that anyone wants to steal from."

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