On the way back home after negotiations for 5 days and 4 nights… “Agreement on’Raise Rate/Period’ between Representatives, Subject to Internal Approval”
“Is it included in the purchase of U.S. weapons?”
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ROK-US defense cost-sharing negotiation ambassador Jung Eun-bo said on the 8th (local time) that South Korea-US negotiating representatives agreed on an increase rate and duration, but they are still difficult to disclose as they must obtain internal approval. However, Ambassador Chung said that it is highly likely that the two countries will announce the information before the US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln and Defense Minister Lloyd Austin’s visit to Korea, which are being pursued in the middle of this month.
Ambassador Chung, who went back home after completing the 4 nights and 5 days visit to the US for negotiations on the 11th Special Agreement on Defense Cost Sharing (SMA), met with reporters at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington DC this morning and “did the best to negotiate.” He said, “I would like to advocate for achieving a reasonable, fair and mutually acceptable agreement between Korea and the United States.” He added, “It was expressed in that way in the sense that an agreement was reached between the negotiating representatives, but in the end, they must go through an internal reporting procedure and be approved and confirmed.”
Regarding the final confirmation and the timing of the transfer, Ambassador Chung said, “It is difficult for me to say that it is decided immediately in terms of very fluidity,” and “however, the announcement can be made first.” Regarding this, when asked if the signature will be made when the US Secretary of State and Defense Ministers visit Korea, which is promoted from the 17th to the 18th, he replied, “It is highly likely to be announced before the visit.”
Regarding the subject of Go Myung, he said, “I know this is also a discussion between the two sides.”
Responding to some foreign media reports that South Korea’s mandatory increase in defense expenditures and purchase of certain weapons will be included in the agreement, Ambassador Chung said, “No,” and “We are negotiating SMA, and this is to support the stable presence of US forces in Korea. Yes. Except for a stable presence, nothing can be negotiated.”
Earlier, the ROK-US authorities announced that they had reached a principle agreement for the conclusion of the SMA through negotiations for three days on the 5th to 7th, and actually announced the news of the settlement the day before.
/ Reporter Yoon Kyung-hwan [email protected]
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