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Washington wants Seoul to shoulder a greater share of the upkeep of the U.S. Forces Korea. U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said Wednesday his government is stretched by the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. ¡°The U.S. would like Korea to share the level of support up to 50 percent in terms of non-personnel stationing costs,¡± he said. That refers to all costs for keeping U.S. forces here other than labor costs. Vershbow told the Korea Defense Daily, a newspaper published by the Defense Ministry, Seoul's new administration could reach an agreement "for a longer term, instead of having to negotiate every year or a year and a half.¡±
South Korea currently pays some 41 percent of the upkeep. But the U.S. says that it is less than the contribution of other host countries like Japan and Europe. Vershbow¡¯s remarks follow demands by other senior U.S. officials including U.S. Forces Korea Commander Burwell Bell. They come ahead of President Lee Myung-bak¡¯s visit to Washington.
Bell had told the Kwanhun Club, a gathering of senior journalists, in July last year that South Korea should pay 50 percent of the cost here. Pundits say that in the face of public opposition, the new pro-American Korean government will have difficulty deciding on how much it will increase its share.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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