[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] US Faces Strong Pressure Over Defense Cost-Sharing Payments

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] On the eve of the meeting between Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the 24th, pressure from the United States regarding the Special Measures Agreement (SAM) on defense cost-sharing between South Korea and the U.S. is intensifying.

The U.S. Department of Defense reiterated on the 23rd (local time) that if the conclusion of a new SAM is delayed, unpaid leave for Korean workers employed by the U.S. Forces Korea will be inevitable.

In a press release on the same day, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that Secretary Esper will hold a bilateral meeting with Minister Jeong on the 24th to discuss various bilateral issues including the regional security environment, North Korea policy, the transfer of wartime operational control, and the Special Measures Agreement (SMA). Up to this point, the release can be seen as an explanation of the expected agenda ahead of the bilateral talks, but what was unusual came immediately after this sentence.

The Department of Defense did not mention any other bilateral issues and focused solely on the SMA issue, explaining the U.S. position and pressuring South Korea for an increase. The release explained that despite no new SMA agreement this year, the U.S. military has allocated funds to maintain the salaries of Korean workers to ensure operational continuity.

The U.S. Forces Korea also stated on the same day that it is analyzing the number of Korean workers who will be excluded from forced unpaid leave in relation to the U.S. Department of Defense’s announcement to support the salaries of Korean workers engaged in critical tasks.

The U.S. Forces Korea said, "We welcome Secretary of Defense Mark Esper’s decision to support the salaries of Korean employees (workers) involved in important logistics contracts, life, safety, health, and other readiness-related tasks," and added, "Since the U.S. Forces Korea has just received this information, we are analyzing details of the Department of Defense’s decision, including the number of employees who will be excluded from forced unpaid leave."

The U.S. Forces Korea is reportedly planning to hold a briefing on the U.S. Department of Defense’s decisions regarding forced unpaid leave measures for Korean workers on the same day.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, who is visiting the United States, is expected to actively express the opinion during the meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the 24th (local time) that forced unpaid leave for Korean workers should not be implemented. The Korean side is reportedly proposing to the U.S. that even if the SMA is not immediately concluded, wages for Korean workers employed by the U.S. Forces Korea should be paid for the time being.

In addition, they will exchange views on various issues such as the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), performance improvements of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, and the general environmental impact assessment. This is Minister Jeong’s first visit to the U.S. since Secretary Esper took office. Secretary Esper visited South Korea in June and November last year.