Trump Keeps Harping on About USFK Upkeep Costs

U.S. President Donald Trump has again said that he wants South Korea to pay more for the upkeep of U.S. forces here despite striking a new deal only a few months ago.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Saturday after playing golf with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he told supporters, "There's one country" where the U.S. is spending US$5 billion, he claimed. "I won't say it. I don't want to embarrass anybody."

He claimed the U.S. is spending $5 billion and South Korea $500 million, and the U.S. is losing $4.5 billion in defense costs.

"We lose four and a half billion for the privilege of defending a country. That's very tough on us on trade and various other things. So I called, I said 'Listen, no good,'" he said. "We can't do this anymore..." He added, "It took me one call. Now I'm not bragging, I hate the deal."

Trump has made the claim before but was lying in every word. Seoul's share last year was W960.2 billion or approximately $860 million, and after months of negotiations it agreed to pay W1.04 trillion this year, up 8.2 percent (US$1=W1,161).

Washington and Seoul split the cost roughly 50/50.