By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ANKARA
The U.S. administration has sought 41 percent hike in South Korea’s contribution toward the stationing of American troops in the far-east country, media reports said on Wednesday.
28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) are stationed in South Korea for which Seoul wants a renewed three to five-year contract, while Washington is calling for a one-year term, Yonhap news agency reported.
U.S. Ambassador in Seoul Harry Harris has already conveyed Washington’s position on the issue to South Korea.
“Seoul contributed 960 billion won [$851 million] in 2018 under a five-year accord signed in 2014,” the news agency said.
“The U.S. recently asked South Korea via a diplomatic channel to pay up to $1.2 billon,” it added.
The demand from Washington is in line with U.S. President Donald Trump’s open criticism that “some [of its] allies are taking as a free ride on the U.S. for national defense”.
“Washington said it can’t accept an amount below US$1 billion under any circumstance, citing a “guideline” from the highest leadership,” the agency said.
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha also told the media that there was a “very big” gap between the two sides on sharing the cost of the USFK.
