US Said to Be Counting Chickens Before They Hatch, "Defense Cost-Sharing Talks Underway"

USFK Commander and State Department Deputy Secretary Also Indicate Ongoing Negotiations
Mention of Possible Decision at the Summit Level

Ambassador Jung Eun-bo, the South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiator, who is currently in self-quarantine after returning from the United States for negotiations, made remarks regarding unpaid leave for Korean workers at the U.S. Forces Korea in a government e-briefing video message on the 31st.
In the video posted that day, Ambassador Jung stated, "Today, the U.S. Forces Korea Command informed us that unpaid leave for some Korean workers at the U.S. Forces Korea will be implemented as scheduled starting tomorrow, April 1."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] A U.S. official stated that the South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations have not yet concluded and emphasized the need for a fair agreement.

This appears to suppress the South Korean government's expectation that the negotiations have been tentatively settled, applying pressure for additional final contributions. It also suggested that decisions are being made at the presidential level.

Clark Cooper, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, repeatedly stressed on the 2nd (local time) that the South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations are by no means over and that a fair agreement is necessary.

During a virtual press briefing with the media, Deputy Assistant Secretary Cooper said, "I can assert that the negotiations have been ongoing and are absolutely not finished."

He explained, "The negotiations are taking place between Seoul and Washington," noting that discussions are being held via video conference. He further emphasized, "If an agreement is reached, it must be a mutually beneficial and fair agreement."

Regarding the parties involved in the negotiations, he mentioned, "My colleagues in the responsible departments, and of course at the ministerial level and above." This is interpreted as implying that discussions are occurring beyond the negotiation teams, involving Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Mike Pompeo, as well as Presidents Moon Jae-in and Donald Trump.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Cooper reiterated, "The important thing is that as negotiations continue, we are seeking a mutually beneficial and fair agreement for both sides."

His remarks may be a subtle expression of speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump, the ultimate decision-maker on the American side, is delaying approval of the negotiation proposal.

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, Chung Eun-bo, South Korea's chief negotiator for the defense cost-sharing talks, publicly stated that the negotiations were in the final coordination stage, and South Korean reports on the 1st anticipated a settlement, but no news has come from the U.S. side.

Notably, on the same day, Robert Abrams, Commander of the United States Forces Korea, posted on his Twitter that he had learned the Korean proverb "drinking kimchi soup first," indirectly indicating that the negotiations have not yet been concluded.