South Korean, US military chiefs meet amid tensions about defense cost-sharing

By Anadolu Staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - The military chiefs of South Korea and the US met Thursday in Seoul amid tensions about defense cost-sharing related to the deployment of American troops on the Korean Peninsula, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.

South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo held talks with his US counterpart, Gen. Dan Caine, to discuss the bilateral alliance and regional security.

The meeting came one day ahead of a planned trilateral meeting in Seoul with their Japanese counterpart, Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida.

Kim and Yoshida also held talks to discuss “security cooperation and recent movements by North Korea’s military.”

South Korea hosts 28,500 US troops, while Japan hosts more than 50,000 under separate military agreements with Washington.

The Trump administration has renewed calls for Seoul to contribute more to the cost of stationing US forces on the peninsula.

South Korea has pushed back on Washington’s demands, however, saying it will adhere to the 12th Special Measures Agreement, under which it will pay 1.52 trillion won ($1.11 billion) next year -- up from 1.4 trillion won in 2025.

US President Donald Trump reiterated Tuesday that South Korea contributes “very little” to the cost of the American troops and should take more responsibility for its own defense.

A recent recommendation from a US defense think tank suggested the Pentagon reduce its troop presence in South Korea to around 10,000.

The report by Washington-based Defense Priorities argues that the US presence on the peninsula “should be reduced even further” if Seoul limits the US’ ability to use its assets to address regional security crises beyond the peninsula.

The Korean Peninsula has remained divided since the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice.