"South Korea and U.S. Reach Agreement on Defense Cost-Sharing Negotiations Until 2026... Announcement Expected Today"

WSJ Reports Citing Sources

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Reports have emerged that South Korea and the United States have reached an agreement on the defense cost-sharing for the US Forces Korea.

Jeong Eun-bo, the Special Representative for the Korea-US Defense Cost-Sharing Negotiations, is departing through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 4th to attend the 9th meeting for the conclusion of the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost-sharing between Korea and the US, held in Washington, USA. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 7th (local time), citing diplomatic sources, that the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on defense cost-sharing for US Forces Korea have been finalized.

According to sources, South Korea and the US have agreed to sign an agreement valid until 2026. South Korea's contribution to the cost-sharing is expected to increase.

WSJ stated that both sides will officially announce the agreement details later in the afternoon.

Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea's chief negotiator for the defense cost-sharing talks, and Donna Welton, the US chief negotiator, have been conducting SMA negotiations in Washington DC since the 5th. Jeong was originally scheduled to return on the 7th, but the negotiations extended by a day, postponing his return to the 8th.