S. Korea, U.S. wrap up 5th round of talks on defense cost sharing

South Korea and the United States ended another round of negotiations Friday on determining Seoul's share of the cost for stationing the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), an official said. The three-day fifth round of the talks on renewing the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) took place in Seoul this week, as South Korea is seeking to strike an early deal to apparently avoid tough bargaining if former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House. "Based on our previous fourth round of talks, we had more focused and in-depth discussions on the main concerns of both sides," a foreign ministry official said. Under Trump's presidency, Washington had demanded more than a fivefold increase in Seoul's payment to US$5 billion. The current six-year SMA is due to expire at the end of next year. South Korea has called for an agreement that will set its share at "a reasonable level," and the U.S. has stressed the goal of reaching "a mutually acceptable" deal. The SMA committed South Korea to paying $1.03 billion for 2021, a 13.9 percent increase from 2019, and increasing the payment every year for the subsequent four years in line with the rise in Seoul's defense spending. Since 1991, Seoul has partially shared the cost for Korean USFK workers; the construction of military installations, such as barracks, as well as training, educational, operational and communications facilities; and other logistical support. Source: Yonhap News Agency