Korea, US yet to finalize talks over Seoul's defense spending hike: defense official
Defense Vice Minister Lee Doo-hee responds to lawmakers' questions during a plenary session of the National Defense Committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Korea and the United States have yet to conclude consultations over details about a hike in Seoul's defense spending, Defense Vice Minister Lee Doo-hee said Tuesday.
Lee made the remark during a parliamentary session in response to a media report that Korea has agreed to hike its defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) during consultations with the United States.
He said the government has a plan to gradually raise defense spending, but it is currently hard to set a specific target.
"As the consultations have not been finalized, it is not appropriate to specifically make a comment," Lee said, noting that an increase in defense budget will be used to bolster the country's defense capabilities.
Korea is under growing pressure from the U.S. to boost defense spending to 5 percent of GDP as Washington wants Seoul to play a greater role over security on the Korean Peninsula.
Korea's defense spending for 2025 accounted for 2.32 percent of GDP. The defense ministry seeks an 8.2 percent hike in defense budget for next year to 66.3 trillion won ($47.6 billion).
President Lee Jae Myung vowed to increase defense spending in a bid to play a more "leading" role in bolstering the country's security posture during his visit to Washington last month.