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Koreans will have to pay some W490,000 (US$1=W964) per head in taxes if Korea takes over wartime operational control of its troops from the U.S in 2009, as Washington proposes, according to an estimate by the Chosun Ilbo based on figures from the ministries of defense, and planning and budget.
Originally, an additional defense budget of W151 trillion was estimated to be needed over the next five years, putting an extra defense tax burden of W3.07 million on Koreans. That was based on Korea exercising sole control from 2012, as the government planned in line with the mid- and long-term defense plans. But if Korea has sole control in 2009, Koreans will have to pay another W490,000 a head on top of the W3.07 million between 2007 and 2009, since the government will spend W23.9 trillion to improve defense capability two years earlier than originally allotted for 2010 and 2011.
Meanwhile, Korean Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Lee Sang-hee sent separate letters to U.S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace early this month asking them to return wartime operational control in 2012 as Korea originally planned. But both U.S officials replied that Washington will hand over troop control in 2009.
A government source said Monday that Rumsfeld¡¯s letter on Aug. 17 confirming the earlier date came in reply to Yoon¡¯s. In the letter, Yoon said a 2009 return was premature and asked for a 2012 deadline instead. Gen. Lee made the same request in the letter to Pace, and in mid-August got the same reply.
There are concerns that there will be no room for negotiation now both top U.S. defense officials have made it clear that Washington will hand over control to Korea in 2009.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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