In its editorial, the paper says that instead of holding firm on sticking points, South Korea could ask that the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) be renewed for multiple years at a time, hopefully at least five years.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
SEOUL - Late last month, some local media outlets reported that Seoul and Washington had reached a tentative agreement to renew a bilateral deal on how to split the cost of stationing 28,500 US troops here.
During the talks, Mr Trump mentioned his country's need for South Korean-made medical equipment to respond to the rapid spread of Covid-19 there. Seoul proposed contributing about 10 per cent more than it did last year. Under the 2019 SMA, which expired in December, Seoul was required to pay US$870 million, up 8.2 per cent from the previous year.
Washington's reaction raised speculation that Mr Trump had vetoed a draft deal worked out by negotiators from the two sides, one that fell far short of his expectations. The official at Cheong Wa Dae who struck an upbeat note seems to have spoken too soon. He should have known that negotiators might reach an agreement, but it is Mr Trump's view that matters in the end.US officials suggest it may be hard to reach an agreement in the coming months, let alone the coming weeks. The report quoted an unidentified US official as saying there was concern that the standoff could last until the US presidential election in November.
Seoul has said it will take measures to support the livelihoods of local employees forced to go on unpaid leave.
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