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Bloomberg
The US and South Korea remain stalled after six rounds of talks on an updated cost-sharing agreement but the allies’ top defense officials said that they hope to break that deadlock next month.
“We are engaged in negotiations,†and the “minister and I are hopeful they will reach agreement soon, preferably before the end of March,†Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at a news conference alongside South Korea’s Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo after they met on February 24 at the Pentagon.
If not, Jeong said, South Korean civilians who provide services to US forces will start to be furloughed on April 1 for lack of funds. The countries are at an impasse over President Donald Trump’s demand that the South Koreans contribute much more than in the past for the American troops stationed in a joint defense against threats from North Korea.