[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said on the 29th regarding North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's whereabouts, "According to the information we have, there is no abnormality," and "There are no unusual developments."
Minister Jeong explained at the National Assembly Defense Committee plenary session that "Last year, the longest period he did not appear was 27 days," and "There were about five instances last year when he did not appear for a long time, and this year there were about three times when he did not appear for more than 15 days."
He added, "As the Defense Minister, I am the most seriously aware of this and pay a lot of attention," emphasizing, "I am really trying to grasp everything in detail."
Regarding the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on the Korea-US defense cost-sharing, Minister Jeong also mentioned, "The media reported a 13% increase rate, but that is not an accurate figure."
He continued, "The importance of the Korea-US alliance is significant, and the US Forces Korea greatly contribute to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asia region," adding, "We are making great efforts to reach a mutually beneficial agreement between the allied countries."
Earlier, Ahn Gyu-baek, chairman of the National Assembly Defense Committee, said in a radio interview on the 27th, "The increase rate is more than 13%," and "Our government raised it by 8.2% last year, and if the increase rate is between 13 and 14% this year, it would be 22% over two years," adding, "This is a groundbreaking effort within our fiscal scope."
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