Defense cost-sharing deal reflects shared commitment to ‘robust’ S. Korea-U.S. defense posture: Pentagon

A defense cost-sharing agreement between South Korea and the United States represents the allies' shared commitment to a "robust" security posture, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday following the first round of talks on the deal. The two countries concluded the initial round of the negotiations in Honolulu on Thursday to determine how much Seoul should pay for the stationing of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) under the deal, called the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), as the current six-year SMA is set to end at the end of next year. "The Special Measures Agreements reflect our shared commitment to a stable stationing environment for U.S. forces in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and a robust combined defense posture," Lieut. Col. Marty Meiners said in a statement, referring to South Korea by its official name. "We appreciate all the Republic of Korea contributes to the U.S.-ROK Alliance, including but not limited to the SMA cost-sharing contributions," he added. He also reiterated the importance of the bi lateral alliance as the "linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity for Northeast Asia, the broader Indo-Pacific, and beyond." "As we work to further strengthen the U.S.-ROK Alliance, our two countries will stand better prepared to engage with our other allies and partners across the world, not to meet yesterday's challenges, but those of today and tomorrow," he said. Lee Tae-woo, a senior diplomat and former consul general in Sydney, led the South Korean delegation in the SMA negotiations, while the U.S. delegation was headed by Linda Specht, a senior adviser and lead negotiator for security agreements at the State Department. Since 1991, Seoul has partially shouldered costs under the SMA for Korean USFK workers; the construction of military installations, such as barracks, and training, educational, operational and communications facilities; and other logistical support. Source: Yonhap News Agency