Trump demands South Korea pay for U.S. protection.
US President Donald Trump argued that South Korea is very wealthy, and they should pay the US for protecting their safety over the years.
According to CNBC, US President Donald Trump has criticized South Korea for not paying for the operation of missile defense systems on the Korean Peninsula, particularly the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.
In March 2017, amid escalating tensions between the US and South Korea with North Korea, and to counter North Korea's nuclear missile tests, Washington requested Seoul to provide land for the urgent deployment of THAAD systems on South Korean territory.
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The THAAD system is deployed in South Korea. |
In Iowa recently, the American businessman president stated: "I've stated that we have a very expensive system and we can shoot down missiles fired from North Korea toward South Korea. That means we're protecting South Korea, right? So why aren't they paying for it?"
President Trump continued his criticism, saying, "We are setting up a system that we are paying for ourselves at a cost of $1 billion. And we are providing free protection for an extremely wealthy nation like South Korea."
THAAD, one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world, can target and shoot down incoming missiles in mid-air from truck-mounted launchers. Currently, the U.S. Army deploys seven THAAD batteries in South Korea and Guam in the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. also has approximately 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea.
This is not the first time Trump has demanded that South Korea pay for the operation of THAAD.
In April 2017, despite a prior bilateral agreement that included a clause stating the US would bear all the costs of THAAD, the US President still demanded that Seoul pay Washington $1 billion.
The Blue House (South Korea) was furious at Trump's statement, and White House National Security Advisor HR McMaster immediately reassured Seoul that Trump's statement was made in a general context, consistent with US expectations of sharing the burden of defense costs with allies, and not as an obligation for South Korea to do so.
However, this latest criticism of South Korea shows that Trump still maintains his position that Seoul should pay for the missile defense system that the US proactively requested to be installed on South Korean territory.
South Korean media also showed a wave of opposition to Trump's statement, arguing that if South Korea pays for THAAD, sooner or later Washington will demand payment for the tens of thousands of American troops stationed in South Korea.
