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The Korean government has asked for an adjustment to the U.S. Arms Control Act, which now makes it more expensive for Korea to buy American weapons than for NATO countries.
Grand National Party Rep. Hwang Jin-ha said Friday the Defense Ministry revealed that it made three formal proposals to the U.S. in 2004 and this year to improve Korea¡¯s status as a weapons buyer.
"Requests to raise Korea's status as a weapons buyer were submitted to the U.S. government in June last year as well as this June ... And we received a positive response from the US side,¡± the ministry wrote. "Due to the tight schedule, there was no discussion at the Security Consultative Meeting last month, but we made our position clear in working-level committee meetings in preparation for the talks.¡±
The immediate reason for the request is Korea¡¯s defense reform plan, which hinges on massive purchases of high-tech weaponry and equipment by 2020. The budget needed is estimated to be some W272 trillion.
Under the 1976 Arms Export Control Act, congressional approval is required before key weapons and military technology can be exported, but NATO member countries, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand enjoy special status under the act.
These nations only need congressional approval for purchases of US$25 million for key military equipment and a total over $100 million. For other countries including Korea the amounts are $14 million and $50 million, and stipulations are twice as strict as for the favored nations.
Korea then pays a contract administration services fee (CAS), which amounts to 1.7 percent on top of the purchase price. For favored nations it is only 0.2 to 1 percent. ¡°Since the price of advanced weaponry can be astronomical, just 1 percent can make big difference and amount to hundreds of millions of won,¡± a military expert said.
Korea did not raise the matter earlier because at the time the law was enacted the U.S. donated or loaned -- rather than sold -- weapons to the country. Moreover, it has taken until now for experts to recognize the importance of the issue for the reform plan.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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