ID :
29009
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 08:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/29009
The shortlink copeid
Seoul to pay 5 tln won for U.S. troop relocation: source
SEOUL, Nov. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has tentatively agreed with the U.S. to pay 5 trillion won (US$3.7 billion), or about half of the estimated cost, to relocate frontline U.S. troops stationed here, a government source said Friday.
U.S. troops from Seoul's Yongsan Garrison and frontline bases were scheduled to
be relocated to Pyeongtaek, 50 km south of Seoul, by 2012 as part of an overall
realignment of the bilateral military alliance.
With budget issues still under discussion, however, many believe the project will
be delayed by several years. Seoul says it hopes to complete the project by 2015,
while Washington has set a target date of 2018.
Korea's Defense Ministry initially estimated in March last year that Seoul would
have to pay 5.5 trillion won for its share of the relocation cost. A ministry
source familiar with the issue, however, said, "Negotiations are being completed
to reduce the cost by about 500 billion won."
Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee has stressed on many occasions that Seoul's budget
sharing should not exceed its initial estimate of 4.58 trillion won in
construction costs and 1 trillion won to buy the needed land.
The ministry source said the relocation will cost the two nations a total of
approximately 10 trillion won, as estimated by U.S. officials, and that the two
countries are "fine-tuning their ongoing appraisal of relocation costs as it is
related to the budget sharing."
As soon as budgetary issues are settled, each country must then submit their
appropriation bills to their respective legislatures for approval. The two sides
hope to reach a deal by the end of November and submit the bills for legislative
approval by the end of this year.
The new U.S. base, now under construction, will house most frontline American
troops as well as key U.S. military headquarters and their local service members.
While Seoul acknowledges delays in the multi-billion dollar project will lead to
additional financial burdens, many officials here now believe maintaining a U.S.
troop presence close to the heavily fortified border with North Korea is in
Seoul's interest. Some 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed here, a legacy of the
1950-53 Korean War.
U.S. troops from Seoul's Yongsan Garrison and frontline bases were scheduled to
be relocated to Pyeongtaek, 50 km south of Seoul, by 2012 as part of an overall
realignment of the bilateral military alliance.
With budget issues still under discussion, however, many believe the project will
be delayed by several years. Seoul says it hopes to complete the project by 2015,
while Washington has set a target date of 2018.
Korea's Defense Ministry initially estimated in March last year that Seoul would
have to pay 5.5 trillion won for its share of the relocation cost. A ministry
source familiar with the issue, however, said, "Negotiations are being completed
to reduce the cost by about 500 billion won."
Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee has stressed on many occasions that Seoul's budget
sharing should not exceed its initial estimate of 4.58 trillion won in
construction costs and 1 trillion won to buy the needed land.
The ministry source said the relocation will cost the two nations a total of
approximately 10 trillion won, as estimated by U.S. officials, and that the two
countries are "fine-tuning their ongoing appraisal of relocation costs as it is
related to the budget sharing."
As soon as budgetary issues are settled, each country must then submit their
appropriation bills to their respective legislatures for approval. The two sides
hope to reach a deal by the end of November and submit the bills for legislative
approval by the end of this year.
The new U.S. base, now under construction, will house most frontline American
troops as well as key U.S. military headquarters and their local service members.
While Seoul acknowledges delays in the multi-billion dollar project will lead to
additional financial burdens, many officials here now believe maintaining a U.S.
troop presence close to the heavily fortified border with North Korea is in
Seoul's interest. Some 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed here, a legacy of the
1950-53 Korean War.
