S.Korea to shoulder higher USFK financial burden

Posted on : 2010-08-18 14:19 KST Modified on : 2010-08-18 14:19 KST
Some observers have viewed this as payment for the OPCON delay requested by S.Korea
 2009.  
2009.  

By Kwon Hyeok-chul

   

The United States has reportedly asked for an extension to the deadline to use South Korea’s defense cost-sharing contribution for the transfer of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) facilities to Pyeongtaek. In particular, as the U.S. request came four days after the announcement on June 27 of the delay to the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), as had been asked by South Korea, some are pointing out that the request is payment for the delay in the transfer.

 

A military source commented on the situation on Tuesday. 

“My understanding is that USFK Commander Gen. Walter Sharp met with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young and asked that the time period for using South Korea’s defense cost-sharing contribution for moving the US 2nd Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek be extended a couple years from the originally agreed upon 2013,” said the source. “Sharp said that of the $600 million earmarked by the United States for the transfer, the U.S. Congress had approved only $300 million and of this $300 million, only half could actually be used. So he asked the South Korean government to allow funds from its cost-sharing contribution to continue to be used for the transfer.” USFK reportedly wants the deadline for the use of cost-sharing funds in the Pyeongtaek move to be extended to around 2015, when the transfer is to be completed.

  

Initially, both countries had agreed that in the case of the U.S. garrison in Yongsan, South Korea would pay for the transfer to Pyeongtaek, while in the case of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, the United States would pay. Due to insufficient funds, however, the U.S. military has been using around 1.12 trillion Won ($954 million) of South Korea’s cost-sharing contribution since 2001 for use in the base transfer.

Civic organizations have condemned it as the United States virtually dumping its portion of the costs onto South Korea without legal grounds. Accordingly, South Korea and the United States agreed in their cost-sharing agreement of November 2008 that the United States could use South Korea’s contribution for the base transfer up to 2013. The cost-sharing contribution is the cost South Korea pays to support the costs of stationing USFK in South Korea. This year it amounted to 790.4 billion Won, in 2009 it was 760.0 billion Won, and in 2008 it was 741.5 billion Won.

  

Kim Jong-dae, editor-in-chief of D&D Focus, said, “South Korea has been put in a difficult position with the U.S. request to extend the deadline coming just after U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision to accept South Korea’s OPCON delay request.” Kim also said, “It appears as if the United States is asking South Korea for money after delaying the transfer of operation command.”

  

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

 

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