S. Korea, U.S. expressed determination for prompt settlement of defense-cost sharing
- 4 years ago
한미 외교차관 전략대화…"방위비 조속결과 도출 노력"
Besides matters concerning North Korea,... U.S. Deputy Secretary of State today spoke with Seoul's top diplomats to discuss bilateral relations.
On the table... were the sharing of costs to station U.S. troops in South Korea and expanding the G7.
Kim Ji-yeon tells us more.
While reaffirming their ironclad commitment to the defense of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea and the U.S. expressed their determination to achieve a prompt settlement of bilateral defense cost-sharing for this year... among other issues.
That's according to South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister, Cho Sei-young,... after his talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun.
This was the allies' 8th "Strategic Dialogue," held at Seoul's foreign ministry on Wednesday.
The two countries have until now failed to strike a deal despite holding seven rounds of talks since last September on a new Special Measures Agreement on their sharing of defense costs.
In previous rounds, the U.S. is believed to have asked Seoul to pay more than four times last year's figure of 8-hundred-70 million U.S. dollars.
In Wednesday's talks, Cho and Biegun also discussed regional partnerships and shared challenges.
Among the issues discussed include Washington's decision to postpone the G7 summit until the latter half of the year and to invite non-G-7 members South Korea, Russia, Australia and India,... which was first brought up by the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. in their phone call last month.
Cho said they discussed China-U.S. relations as well as South Korea-Japan relations... and agreed to further seek cooperation in carrying out Seoul's "New Southern Policy" as well as Washington's "Indo-Pacific Strategy"... both initiatives based on strengthening relations with Southeast Asian countries and with India on various fronts including promoting lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and trade.
The two sides also stressed the importance of transparent info-sharing in combating COVID-19,... sharing quarantine response measures... as well as seeking ways to support the procurement of supplies.
The two sides also vowed to seek cooperation in the development and distribution of vaccines and treatments for the virus.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.
Besides matters concerning North Korea,... U.S. Deputy Secretary of State today spoke with Seoul's top diplomats to discuss bilateral relations.
On the table... were the sharing of costs to station U.S. troops in South Korea and expanding the G7.
Kim Ji-yeon tells us more.
While reaffirming their ironclad commitment to the defense of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea and the U.S. expressed their determination to achieve a prompt settlement of bilateral defense cost-sharing for this year... among other issues.
That's according to South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister, Cho Sei-young,... after his talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun.
This was the allies' 8th "Strategic Dialogue," held at Seoul's foreign ministry on Wednesday.
The two countries have until now failed to strike a deal despite holding seven rounds of talks since last September on a new Special Measures Agreement on their sharing of defense costs.
In previous rounds, the U.S. is believed to have asked Seoul to pay more than four times last year's figure of 8-hundred-70 million U.S. dollars.
In Wednesday's talks, Cho and Biegun also discussed regional partnerships and shared challenges.
Among the issues discussed include Washington's decision to postpone the G7 summit until the latter half of the year and to invite non-G-7 members South Korea, Russia, Australia and India,... which was first brought up by the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. in their phone call last month.
Cho said they discussed China-U.S. relations as well as South Korea-Japan relations... and agreed to further seek cooperation in carrying out Seoul's "New Southern Policy" as well as Washington's "Indo-Pacific Strategy"... both initiatives based on strengthening relations with Southeast Asian countries and with India on various fronts including promoting lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and trade.
The two sides also stressed the importance of transparent info-sharing in combating COVID-19,... sharing quarantine response measures... as well as seeking ways to support the procurement of supplies.
The two sides also vowed to seek cooperation in the development and distribution of vaccines and treatments for the virus.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.