White House directs negotiation team, 'If South Korea doesn't pay defense costs, hints at reducing USFK'

US CNN Security Expert Reveals in Book 'Madman Theory: Trump Confronts the World'

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] CNN security correspondent revealed that former U.S. President Donald Trump had instructed to hint at the possibility of withdrawing some U.S. troops stationed in South Korea if South Korea did not accept the U.S. demands during the defense cost-sharing negotiations.

On the 11th (local time), Jim Sciutto, author of the book "Madman Theory: Trump Takes on the World," published on that day, mentioned that he heard this from military officials.

Sciutto described that during the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on defense cost-sharing between South Korea and the U.S., which began in September last year, the U.S. side demanded that South Korea increase its contribution by five times, and the South Korean negotiation team hesitated in response.

He stated, "Trump's demand reminded me of the argument that Europe should increase its financial contributions to NATO." He added, "It was a brazen demand that made South Korean officials feel anger and betrayal," and said military officials told him that Trump backed up the demand (for a significant increase in defense costs) with a startling threat.

President Trump instructed the White House National Security Council (NSC) to hint to the South Korean negotiation team that some U.S. troops could be withdrawn if South Korea did not increase defense costs. Sciutto explained that the threat included withdrawing an entire brigade force of about 4,000 troops, equivalent to one-seventh of the U.S. forces stationed in South Korea.

The South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations have been drifting without reaching a final conclusion for nearly a year since last September. The negotiation teams tentatively agreed on a 13% increase, but President Trump rejected it.

Subsequently, President Trump countered with $1.3 billion, which is 50% more than the previous contribution, but South Korea insisted on the principle of a "reasonable and fair share," and both sides have not been able to continue meaningful negotiations.