South Korean national employees working for USFK stage a protest in front of its headquarters at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province on April 1, 2020. (Yonhap) |
“Today, approximately half of the USFK Korean national employee workforce has been furloughed due to a lapse in the Special Measures Agreement,” Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of the US military in Korea, said, referring to the cost-sharing deal the allies have yet to sign.
In response, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said it will come up with a way to support the workers. “We will work with the National Assembly to introduce legislation to compensate the workers using the government budget,” said ministry spokesperson Choi Hyun-soo at a briefing.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense speaks during a press briefing on April 1. (Ministry of National Defense) |
According to the report, Seoul would annually pay roughly 10 percent more than the 1.04 trillion won ($851 million) it paid the previous agreement until 2024. Washington had initially demanded $5 billion. Korea would also sign a five-year deal, as opposed to a one-year contract the US preferred.
Korea insists on lowering the $5 billion the US is reluctant to cut down in the talks that started in September 2019. They reportedly bridged that gap during a phone conversation a week ago when President Moon Jae-in offered to send US President Donald Trump COVID-19 test kits he had requested.
Korea and the US said delays in reaching a new Special Measures Agreement would not affect the readiness of their joint forces, with Gen. Abrams saying they stand ready to “fight tonight.”
By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)