Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Experts See Possibility of Trump Slashing US Troops in South Korea

Connie Kim

   Experts no longer rule out the possibility of U.S. President Donald
   Trump scaling back the American military presence on the Korean
   peninsula.

   Trump questioned the advantage of keeping U.S. troops in South Korea as
   the two allies are deep in their disagreements over the cost-sharing
   deal for American military presence.

   While speaking to reporters in London where he was attending a North
   Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit on Tuesday, Trump said
   continuing the U.S. military presence in its current state is [1]up for
   debate.

   "If we're going to do it, I think they should burden share more
   fairly," said Trump.

   Experts said Trump's remarks should be taken seriously, even though
   they think the remarks are largely a negotiating tactic to make Seoul
   pay a hefty hike in its share of defense costs.

   The U.S. asked South Korea to pay approximately $5 billion to cover the
   cost of continuing to station about 28,500 troops on the Korean
   peninsula.

   "It could be a bargaining approach, but I think it's credible enough
   that it has to be taken seriously," said Michael O'Hanlon, a research
   director at the Brookings Institution.

   Evans Revere, a former State Department official who has had negotiated
   with North Korea extensively, said, "I hope it's a negotiating tactic."

   He continued, "But once again, [Trump] is the president of the United
   States, and when he says things like this we need to pay careful
   attention to them. And we need to call him out when he says things like
   this."

   The U.S. is demanding a five-fold increase from about $900 million
   South Korea agreed to pay for this year. The fourth round of
   negotiations for next year's cost-sharing deal began Tuesday in
   Washington, after failed talks last month.This year's Special Measures
   Agreement will expire at the end of this month.
   

References

   Visible links
   1. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191205000500325?section=national/defense

   Hidden links:
   2. file://localhost/east-asia-pacific/uncertainty-us-s-korea-enter-new-round-defense-cost-sharing-talks

.