S. Korea, U.S. intensify effort to fix timeline for U.S. base relocation

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- High-level defense officials of the United States and South Korea held their second round of negotiations in a week on Wednesday to discuss a timeline and cost-sharing plans for the relocation of American bases here, officials said.

Gen. Walter Sharp, who commands 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea, met with South
Korean Vice Defense Minister Chang Soo-man at the Combined Forces Command in
Seoul, the ministry officials said.
The U.S., which maintains its military presence here as a deterrent against North
Korea, has been pushing to relocate most of its forces south of Seoul as part of
a global troop realignment.
The U.S. argues the relocation can only be completed by 2016, while South Korea
has called for an earlier deadline, saying inflation could deepen financial
pressure as time lapses.
The two sides held their first round of talks on April 23, focusing on the
relocation of Yongsan Garrison and the 2nd Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek, 70
kilometers south of Seoul.
Yongsan Garrison is based in Seoul while the infantry division is headquartered
in the city of Dongducheon, north of the capital.
South Korea says the garrison should be moved to Pyeongtaek by 2014 and the
infantry division by 2015. The U.S. has stuck to 2016 for both.
South Korea will reportedly shoulder up to 5.5 trillion won (US$4 billion), while
the U.S. will pay 6.8 trillion won ($5 billion) for the entire relocation.
The U.S. had already delayed the target year set for the relocation in July. It
sought a further delay late last year after estimating the expansion of its
Pyeongtaek base to accommodate the relocation by 2015 would require twice the
budget it could procure.
South Korea balked at the request and said its share of the costs would increase
by nearly 50 percent from such delay.
samkim@yna.co.kr