US defense minister responds vaguely to questions on potential USFK withdrawal

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper pose for a photo after their joint press conference on the 51st South Korea-US Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul on Nov. 15. (Defense ministry photo pool)

Washington seems to be using specter of US troop cutbacks to pressure Seoul

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper pose for a photo after their joint press conference on the 51st South Korea-US Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul on Nov. 15. (Defense ministry photo pool)

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper responded vaguely on Nov. 19 to questions about the possibility of US Forces Korea (USFK) reductions if defense cost-sharing negotiations with South Korea break down.

“I’m not going to prognosticate or speculate,” he said. Analysts said the US’ stance in repeatedly demanding a large increase in South Korea’s financial contribution to stationing US troops signals that Washington may be looking for leverage in the talks by subtly raising the specter of USFK cutbacks -- a matter that could provoke security fears in South Korea.

Appearing at a joint press conference with the Filipino defense minister in Manila that day, Esper was asked what the US’ next decision would be if no agreement could be reached on defense cost-sharing and whether it might consider military reductions on the Korean Peninsula.

“I'm not going to prognosticate or speculate on what we may or may not do [regarding the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost sharing],” he replied.

“The State Department has the lead in these [defense cost] discussions, and I'm sure they are in capable hands. We just take this one step at a time,” he added.

Esper also reiterated his remarks a few days earlier that South Korea is a wealthy country that “can and should contribute more.” At the same time, he added that he would leave it for the State Department to reach a resolution on the particulars.

Esper’s remarks came shortly after a third round of defense cost-sharing negotiations in South Korea, scheduled for Nov. 18-19, ended after just 80 minutes after the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement. A joint communiqu