By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
Korea and U.S. representatives have reached a tentative deal on how to share financial costs for keeping American troops in Korea.
The two sides met in Honolulu on Nov. 19 and 20 for a fifth round of talks on how to share defense costs. Reports say the negotiators have agreed on main issues and are just waiting to iron out minor details. They have reportedly agreed on allowing Korea to pay some of its share in goods and services rather than in cash. They also agreed that a portion of Korea's cost contribution could be used to pay for the planned relocation of U.S. soldiers.
Cho Byung-je, ambassador for defense cost-sharing talks, represented Korea in Honolulu. Jackson McDonald, a U.S. senior adviser for security negotiations, represented the U.S. side. Major defense officials from both Korea and the United States also attended the latest round of negotiations.
Yonhap News Agency quoted an unnamed official familiar with the situation as saying that ``there was significant progress in the fifth round of negotiations held in Honolulu" and that ``although we can't rule out the possibility of another round of talks, the two sides will likely need some consultations through diplomatic channels only to fine-tune details."
Under the tentative deal, Seoul's contribution would increase slightly, up about 2.5 percent to keep up with inflation. Last year, Korea paid some 725 billion won, representing almost 3 percent of Korea's total defense budget. The amount represented 42 percent of the overall cost for maintaining U.S. troops in Korea.
Yonhap also reported that the new cost-sharing contract would be a three- to five-year deal, longer than previous deals that covered two-to-three year periods. Also under the new deal, the U.S. troops would be allowed to tap into Seoul's financial contribution when relocating the U.S. Second Infantry Division to a new base in Pyeongtaek. The United States would still need to pay for moving its frontline troops, as agreed under the 2004 Land Partnership Plan.
Currently, some 28,500 American soldiers are stationed in South Korea. Seoul began paying some financial costs of keeping troops in 1991.