State Dept.: U.S. did not ‘make demands’ on South Korea in cost-sharing negotiations – By Thomas Maresca (UPI) / Mar 9 2021
SEOUL, March 9 (UPI) — The United States did not put pressure on South Korea during negotiations for a new defense cost-sharing agreement, a U.S. State Department spokesman said, indicating a renewed relationship between the allies under the administration of President Joe Biden.
“I would say that the South Koreans are our allies, so in the context of a relationship with a close ally … I don’t think the United States would make demands,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said during a briefing on Monday.
“[C]ertainly, I don’t think that would help to strengthen the underlying alliance,” Price continued. “We have engaged in good faith, constructive negotiations.”
Seoul and Washington announced that a deal had been reached on Sunday, ending a long impasse over how much South Korea would pay to help maintain the 28,500 U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula. Details of the agreement, which must be signed by both sides and ratified by the South Korean parliament, were not disclosed.
