S.Korea cites agreed terms on sharing defence costs after Trump's demand

9/7/2025 18:27

South Korea will follow terms previously agreed with the United States on defence cost sharing, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, following a call by U.S. President Donald Trump for Seoul to pay more for the U.S. troop presence in the country.



Just before Trump won the presidential election in November, the countries struck a new five-year plan on sharing the cost of keeping U.S. troops in South Korea. Under the plan, Seoul would raise its contribution toward the upkeep of U.S. troops by 8.3% to $1.47 billion in the first year.



Trump said America's Asian ally should be paying for its own military protection, a day after saying he planned to impose a 25% tariff on imports from South Korea.



"Our government is committed to complying with and implementing the 12th SMA, which has been valid and went into effect," the ministry said in a statement, in which it declined to comment further on Trump's remarks.



Trump has accused Seoul of "free-riding" on U.S. military might, with some 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea as part of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.