South Korea agrees to pay more for US troops following Trump demand
Officials sign an agreement to boost the country’s contribution towards the upkeep of about 28,500 US troops
Seoul — Officials signed a short-term agreement on Sunday to boost South Korea’s contribution to the upkeep of US troops on the peninsula, after a previous deal lapsed amid US President Donald Trump’s call for the country to pay more. About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea, where the US has maintained a military presence since the 1950-53 Korean War. The new deal must still be approved by South Korea’s parliament, but it would boost its contribution to 1.03-trillion won ($890m) from 960-billion won in 2018. Unlike past agreements, which lasted for five years, this one is scheduled to expire in a year, potentially forcing both sides back to the bargaining table within months. “It has been a very long process, but ultimately a very successful process,” South Korea foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha said at a meeting before another official from the foreign ministry initialled the agreement. While acknowledging lingering domestic criticism of the new deal and the need for par...
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