U.S. President Rejects South Korea’s Defense Cost Offer

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 20 that he turned down South Korea’s offer related to defense cost sharing and South Korea needs to bear more cost. He also remarked that U.S. troop reduction in South Korea cannot be an option.

Earlier, Reuters reported that South Korea suggested a year-on-year increase of 13 percent or more in its cost and U.S. President Donald Trump rejected the offer after talks with State Secretary Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

Last year, South Korea bore 1,038.9 billion won, slightly less than US$1 billion. The United States’ demand in the ongoing negotiations is US$5 billion. The U.S. president stressed that the relations between the two countries are excellent but not fair and South Korea is a rich country.