S. Korea, U.S. at odds over base relocation schedule: source

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States are at odds over a scheduled move to relocate existing military bases to Pyeongtaek, a government source said Tuesday.

The source, who did not wished to be identified, said Washington thinks moving
all bases can only be completed in 2019 due to budgetary constraints, while Seoul
wants the transfer to be completed by 2014.
Under the 2004 Land Partnership Plan deal, the U.S. is required to pay all costs
for the relocation of the front-line 2nd Infantry Division from cities like
Dongducheon and Uijeongbu, while South Korea agreed to shoulder the cost of
moving the main Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul to Pyeongtaek.
Pyeongtaek, located about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, is already home to U.S.
military forces.
"The U.S. side is saying that in order to complete the move before 2015, they
need roughly US$600 million per year, but they have only half this amount," he
said.
He added that the U.S. notified South Korea of its problems earlier in the month.
The official then said that Seoul countered by stressing that the move must be
made within the target date.
About 28,500 U.S. soldiers are stationed on the peninsula as a legacy of the
1950-53 Korean War.