ID :
55924
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 10:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/55924
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean, U.S. officials to meet next week over U.S. base relocation: source
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's second-highest defense official and the
commander of American forces here will hold talks next week to narrow differences
regarding the relocation of U.S. bases in South Korea, a source said Friday.
The April 23 meeting between South Korean Vice Defense Minister Chang Soo-man and
U.S. Gen. Walter Sharp is aimed at finalizing the timetable for the relocation of
Yongsan Garrison and the 2nd Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek, about 50 kilometers
south of Seoul, the source said, declining to be identified.
The Yongsan Garrison is based in Seoul while the infantry division is
headquartered in the city of Uijeongbu, just north of the capital.
"The meeting will also focus on the cost-sharing plans for the relocation," which
South Korea wants completed by 2014 while the U.S. is shooting for 2016, the
source said.
The United States has 28,500 soldiers stationed here as a deterrent against North
Korea -- a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce rather than a
peace treaty.
It has been pushing to relocate its frontline troops south of Seoul as part of a
global realignment project. South Korea is moving to shoulder a greater portion
of its defense as it prepares to reclaim wartime operational control of its
655,000 forces in 2012.
That control was relinquished to the U.S.-led U.N. command during the Korean War.
Peacetime control was returned in 1994.
The U.S. had delayed the target years for the relocations of the bases in July.
It sought a further delay late last year, estimating the expansion of its
Pyeongtaek base to accommodate the relocation by 2015 would require twice the
budget it could procure.
South Korea balked, saying the delay would drastically raise its costs due to
inflation. The defense ministry in Seoul estimates the total costs would increase
by nearly 50 percent, with Seoul already shouldering over 5 trillion won (US$3.7
billion) because of the initial delay.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, April 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's second-highest defense official and the
commander of American forces here will hold talks next week to narrow differences
regarding the relocation of U.S. bases in South Korea, a source said Friday.
The April 23 meeting between South Korean Vice Defense Minister Chang Soo-man and
U.S. Gen. Walter Sharp is aimed at finalizing the timetable for the relocation of
Yongsan Garrison and the 2nd Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek, about 50 kilometers
south of Seoul, the source said, declining to be identified.
The Yongsan Garrison is based in Seoul while the infantry division is
headquartered in the city of Uijeongbu, just north of the capital.
"The meeting will also focus on the cost-sharing plans for the relocation," which
South Korea wants completed by 2014 while the U.S. is shooting for 2016, the
source said.
The United States has 28,500 soldiers stationed here as a deterrent against North
Korea -- a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce rather than a
peace treaty.
It has been pushing to relocate its frontline troops south of Seoul as part of a
global realignment project. South Korea is moving to shoulder a greater portion
of its defense as it prepares to reclaim wartime operational control of its
655,000 forces in 2012.
That control was relinquished to the U.S.-led U.N. command during the Korean War.
Peacetime control was returned in 1994.
The U.S. had delayed the target years for the relocations of the bases in July.
It sought a further delay late last year, estimating the expansion of its
Pyeongtaek base to accommodate the relocation by 2015 would require twice the
budget it could procure.
South Korea balked, saying the delay would drastically raise its costs due to
inflation. The defense ministry in Seoul estimates the total costs would increase
by nearly 50 percent, with Seoul already shouldering over 5 trillion won (US$3.7
billion) because of the initial delay.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
