The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    PHOTOSDecisive moments of Team Korea at Asian Games

  • 3

    Will blue crabs from Italy arrive on Korean dining tables?

  • 5

    Seoul's financial assistance for egg freezing draws attention from single women

  • 7

    Korea wins gold, silver in men's golf

  • 9

    Over 30,000 protesters march for climate actions

  • 11

    KOICA pushes for $1.8 mil. project to support Nigeria's ICT education

  • 13

    Police launch belated probe into another teacher's suicide after parental harassment

  • 15

    On the brink of a government shutdown, Senate tries to approve funding but it's almost too late

  • 17

    Last-gasp deal averts US government shutdown

  • 19

    Koreans win gold, silver in men's roller skating

  • 2

    Korea blank China to reach men's football semifinals

  • 4

    INTERVIEWAhn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'

  • 6

    Korea wins 1st gold in women's team badminton in nearly 30 yrs

  • 8

    INTERVIEWROK-US alliance is win-win partnership: KUSAF chief

  • 10

    Expressway congestion partially eases up as Koreans return home following Chuseok

  • 12

    Korea's drop in exports eases in Sept. on chip sales recovery

  • 14

    Germany's government and Elon Musk spar on X over migrant rescue ships

  • 16

    M+ deputy director discusses Seoul's potential to challenge Hong Kong as Asia's art hub

  • 18

    Heavy traffic jams mostly eased on 5th day of holiday

  • 20

    Kosovo demands Serbia withdraw troops from border

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, October 3, 2023 | 06:16
Defense
Trump AftershockTrump may reduce US commitment to S. Korea's security
Posted : 2016-11-10 10:54
Updated : 2016-11-10 17:46
Park Si-soo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Donald Trump
Donald Trump


U.S. President-elect Donald Trump could try to complete the postponed transfer of the wartime operational control of South Korean forces from Washington to Seoul in an effort to reduce American security burdens, a top expert on Korea said Wednesday.

South Korea handed over control of its forces to the U.S. during the 1950-53 Korean War to defend against invading troops from North Korea. Peacetime control of its forces was returned in 1994, but the wartime control, known as OPCON, still rests with the U.S.

The two countries agreed in 2007 to transfer OPCON to Seoul by 2012. But the planned transfer was postponed twice amid growing threats from North Korea, first until 2015 and then indefinitely until the South becomes more capable of coping with the North's threats.

"Trump's guiding principle has been to put American interests first. In this regard, it is entirely plausible that a Trump presidency may seek to complete OPCON transfer and put these responsibilities in the hands of Koreans," said Victor Cha, Korea chairman at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Trump's election cast uncertainly over the fate of the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea because the real-estate tycoon has expressed deeply negative views of U.S. security commitments overseas as well as a willingness to withdraw 28,500 American troops from the South unless Seoul pays more for the troops.

"The reality is that we have no idea what the impact will be on the alliance. The president-elect's guiding principle has been to treat allies fairly but not allow them to unfairly take advantage of the United States," Cha said.

Cha noted that how to share the cost of the American troop presence is a "substantive alliance issue" as Seoul and Washington are scheduled to begin negotiations to renew the existing cost-sharing deal, known as the Special Measures Agreement (SMA).

[Trump Era] Donald Trump elected US president in stunning upset victory
Trump EraDonald Trump elected US president in stunning upset victory
2016-11-09 13:06

Under the agreement, the South pays about half the cost, or $900 million. But Trump has repeatedly claimed during the campaign that Seoul should pay 100 percent or see the U.S. troops leave the country.

"The cost-sharing agreement will require renegotiation in 2017. Trump has said clearly during the campaign that allies need to pay their share. Expect the United States to drive a hard bargain on renegotiation," Cha said.

U.S. security experts and officials, including new U.S. Forces Korea commander, Gen. Vincent Brooks, said it would cost more to keep those troops stationed in the U.S. than it does in Korea. They also agree that the troop presence is also in line with U.S. interests in a region marked by China's rise.

Cha said the biggest question mark about Trump's policy would be about North Korea.

"During the campaign, the president-elect has offered everything from a willingness to sit down with (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un to putting the problem entirely in China's hands," the expert said. "It is plausible that he could try to cut a grand bargain."

In his 2000 book, "The America We Deserve," Trump advocated a surgical strike against the North's nuclear facility before it's too late. In this year's campaign, he said the North is China's problem to fix, though he also expressed a willingness to hold nuclear negotiations with the North's leader while eating hamburgers.

Trump has also called the North's leader a "madman," a "maniac" and a "total nut job," but he's also praised the young dictator, saying it is "amazing" for him to keep control of the country.

Cha said Trump could support a bilateral military intelligence sharing agreement between South Korea and Japan, considering his desire to see allies carry a larger burden. Seoul and Tokyo recently reopened talks to forge the General Security of Military Information Agreement.

On economic issues, Cha said that Trump could reevaluate the free trade agreement with South Korea as he's repeatedly argued the pact hurts the American worker. Trump has denounced the deal, which has been in effect since 2012, as a "job-killing" deal and a "disaster."

The expert also said that it's pointless to talk about South Korea's accession to the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement because Trump is determined to kill the deal that has been awaiting legislative approval. (Yonhap)



Emailpss@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1[PHOTOS] Decisive moments of Team Korea at Asian Games PHOTOSDecisive moments of Team Korea at Asian Games
2Will blue crabs from Italy arrive on Korean dining tables? Will blue crabs from Italy arrive on Korean dining tables?
3[INTERVIEW] ROK-US alliance is win-win partnership: KUSAF chief INTERVIEWROK-US alliance is win-win partnership: KUSAF chief
4Over 30,000 protesters march for climate actions Over 30,000 protesters march for climate actions
5Korea makes last-ditch bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan Korea makes last-ditch bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan
6[INTERVIEW] It is premature to revise ROK-US mutual defense treaty: veterans' group head INTERVIEWIt is premature to revise ROK-US mutual defense treaty: veterans' group head
7LA-based photographer captures Koreatown unfazed by pandemic LA-based photographer captures Koreatown unfazed by pandemic
8Consumers to face higher prices for daily necessities after Chuseok Consumers to face higher prices for daily necessities after Chuseok
9Samsung chief visits Middle East to explore new businesses Samsung chief visits Middle East to explore new businesses
10Internet-only banks outperform legacy lenders in labor productivity Internet-only banks outperform legacy lenders in labor productivity
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Ahn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'INTERVIEWAhn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'
2'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' tops Chuseok holiday box office 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' tops Chuseok holiday box office
3M+ deputy director discusses Seoul's potential to challenge Hong Kong as Asia's art hub M+ deputy director discusses Seoul's potential to challenge Hong Kong as Asia's art hub
4[INTERVIEW] 'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director INTERVIEW'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director
5Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group