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A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 11 February 2019

South Korea, U.S. sign cost-sharing deal for American troops

By HYUNG-JIN KIM South Korea, but not in the asked for 1.13 trillion won
Associated Press United States, according to ($1 billion). Seoul's Foreign
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Seoul's Foreign Ministry. Ministry said the U.S. had
— South Korea and the The allies had failed to called for a sharp increase
United States struck a new reach a new cost-sharing in South Korean spending
deal Sunday that increas- plan during some 10 rounds but didn't elaborate.
es Seoul's contribution for of talks. A five-year 2014 Trump announced last
the cost of the American deal that covered South week that he will sit down
military presence on its soil, Korea's payment last year with Kim for their second
overcoming previous failed expired at the end of 2018. summit. Their first summit
negotiations that caused Some conservatives in in Singapore last June re-
worries about their de- South Korea voiced con- sulted in Kim's vague com-
cades-long alliance. cerns over a weakening mitment to the "complete
The development comes alliance with the United denuclearization of the Ko-
as President Donald Trump States at the same time rean Peninsula," a term that
is set to hold his second as negotiations with North his propaganda machine
summit with North Korean Korea to deprive it of its previously used when it ar-
leader Kim Jong Un in Viet- South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, right, and Timo- nuclear weapons hit a gued it would only denu-
nam in late February. thy Betts, acting Deputy Assistant Secretary and Senior Advisor stalemate. They said Trump clearize after the U.S. with-
South Korea last year pro- for Security Negotiations and Agreements in the U.S. Depart- might use the failed military draws its troops from South
ment of State, stand for the media before their meeting at For-
vided about $830 million, eign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. cost-sharing negotiations Korea. Trump's top envoy
covering roughly 40 per- Associated Press as an excuse to pull back for North Korea, Stephen
cent of the cost of the some U.S. troops in South Biegun, visited Pyongyang
deployment of 28,500 U.S. sured South Korea that it is on Sunday, chanting slo- Korea as a bargaining chip last week to work out details
soldiers whose presence is committed to the alliance gans like "No more money in talks with North Korean of the upcoming summit.
meant to deter aggression and has no plans to adjust for U.S. troops." No violence leader Kim Jong Un. After being briefed by Bie-
from North Korea. Trump the number of its troops in was reported. Trump told CBS' "Face the gun about his Pyongyang
has pushed for South Korea South Korea. "The United States govern- Nation" on Feb. 3 that he trip, South Korea's presiden-
to pay more. South Korea began paying ment realizes that Korea has no plans to withdraw tial office said Sunday that
On Sunday, chief negotia- for the U.S. military deploy- does a lot for our alliance troops from South Korea. U.S. and North Korean of-
tors from the two countries ment in the early 1990s, af- and peace and stability in During his election cam- ficials plan to meet again
signed a new cost-sharing ter rebuilding its economy the region," chief U.S. ne- paign, Trump suggested he the week of Feb. 17 in an
plan, which requires South from the devastation of the gotiator Timothy Betts said could pull back troops from unidentified Asian country.
Korea to pay about 1.04 1950-1953 Korean War. The Sunday in Seoul. "We are South Korea and Japan un- The U.S. military arrived in
trillion won ($924 million) in big U.S. military presence very pleased our consulta- less they took on greater a South Korea to disarm Ja-
2019, Seoul's Foreign Minis- in South Korea is a symbol tions resulted in agreement share of the financial bur- pan, which colonized the
try said in a statement. of the countries' alliance, that will strengthen trans- dens of supporting U.S. sol- Korean Peninsula from
The statement said the two forged in blood during the parency and deepen our diers deployed there. 1910-45, following its World
countries reaffirmed the war, but also a source of cooperation and the alli- South Korean media earlier War II defeat. Most U.S.
need for a "stable" U.S. mili- long-running anti-Ameri- ance." reported that Trump de- troops were withdrawn in
tary deployment amid the can sentiments. The deal, which involves the manded South Korea dou- 1949 but they returned the
"rapidly changing situation About 20 anti-U.S. activ- spending of South Korean ble its spending for the U.S. next year to fight alongside
on the Korean Peninsula." ists rallied near the Foreign taxpayer money, requires military deployment, before South Korea in the Korean
The ministry said the U.S. as- Ministry building in Seoul parliamentary approval in his government eventually War.q

May urges UK lawmakers: Give me more time to get Brexit deal

LONDON (AP) — With Brexit The promise is a bid to avert minister to seek changes British businesses fear a no- Opponents of the govern-
just 47 days away, the Brit- a showdown on Thursday, from the EU. The U.K.'s bid deal Brexit will cause grid- ment accuse May of delib-
ish government asked law- when Parliament is set to for last-minute changes has lock at ports by ripping up erately wasting time so that
makers on Sunday to give debate and vote on next exasperated EU leaders, the trade rulebook and Parliament will face a last-
Prime Minister Theresa May moves in the Brexit process. who insist the legally bind- imposing tariffs, customs minute choice between
more time to rework her Some lawmakers want to ing withdrawal agreement checks and other barriers her deal and no deal.
divorce deal with the Euro- try to seize control and can't be changed. between the U.K. and the Carolyn Fairbairn of busi-
pean Union. steer the country toward a The impasse risks a chaotic EU, its biggest trading part- ness group the Confedera-
Communities Secretary softer exit from the bloc. "no deal" departure for Brit- ner. tion of British Industry said
James Brokenshire said Par- Britain is due to leave the ain, which could be painful Austrian Foreign Minister failure to secure a deal in
liament would get to pass EU on March 29, but Parlia- for businesses and ordinary Karin Kneissl told the BBC good time was "negligence
judgment on May's Brexit ment has rejected May's di- people on both sides of the that a "disorderly exit" was on behalf of our political in-
plan "no later than Feb. 27." vorce bill, leaving the prime Channel. now the most likely option. stitutions and leaders."q