S. Korea, U.S. discuss legal details of U.S. base relocation

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- High-level defense officials of South Korea and the United States held their second round of negotiations in a week on Wednesday and discussed legal hurdles concerning the relocation of U.S. bases here, an official said.

Gen. Walter Sharp of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) met with South Korean
Vice Defense Minister Chang Soo-man and "discussed various agenda including the
facilities" that will be built for the relocation, Lee Jae-young, a ministry
official, said.
Lee declined to confirm media reports that the U.S. has called on South Korea to
guarantee the legal effectiveness of a contract between the USFK and a local
company that will build the housing.
The U.S., which maintains 28,500 troops here as a deterrent against North Korea,
has been pushing to move most of its frontline troops to Pyeongtaek, 70 km south
of Seoul, as part of its global troop realignment.
The new housing in Pyeongtaek will cost approximately 1.7 trillion won (US$1.2
billion), and "various legal matters must be examined regarding the new
facilities because this is such a costly project," Lee said.
The U.S. agreed to the South Korea-proposed timeline for the relocation of two
major U.S. bases to Pyeongtaek in their previous round of talks April 23,
according to media reports, which Lee declined to confirm.
South Korea had called for the relocation of the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul by
2014 and the 2nd Infantry Division north of the capital by 2015. The U.S. had
said the relocation can only be completed by 2016.
Lee said the sides will meet again after Sharp returns from his U.S. trip that
starts this week, adding they have yet to set the date for their third round of
talks.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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