ID :
38870
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 10:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/38870
The shortlink copeid
US, S. Korea make headway in base relocation talks: officials
(ATTN: RECASTS lead; REPHRASES para 5, final para for clarity)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- The United States has agreed to a South Korea-proposed
timetable for relocating its military command here out of Seoul by 2014, but the
sides remain split on when to complete the relocation of a frontline U.S. army
base, officials here said Monday.
The U.S. proposed last year that the relocation of Yongsan Garrison to
Pyeongtaek, about 50 kilometers south of Seoul, be completed by 2016, citing
pressure in costs.
The U.S. recently withdrew the proposal when its top commander here met with
South Korea's defense minister in Seoul, South Korean officials said on condition
of anonymity.
But the officials added the two sides have yet to finalize the year for the
relocation of a major U.S. infantry division near the border with North Korea to
Pyeongtaek.
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) declined a request for confirmation, but one
official said costs could be a factor in U.S. difficulties in moving the 2nd
Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek by 2014.
The relocation is part of a wider U.S. realignment project aimed at streamlining
American troops abroad, and it comes as South Korea is pushing to shoulder
greater responsibilities for frontline defense by receiving back the wartime
operational control of its troops.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War
that ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty. The U.S. has retained the
wartime command since the conflict, and plans to return it by 2012.
The U.S. had already delayed the target years for the two major relocations in
July. The USFK sought a further delay late last year, estimating the expansion of
its Pyeongtaek base to accommodate the relocation by 2015 would require US$600
million annually, twice the budget it could procure.
South Korea balked, saying the delay would drastically raise its share of the
costs due to annual commodity price hikes. Seoul's defense ministry estimates the
total relocation costs would increase by nearly 50 percent, with Seoul
shouldering over 5 trillion won because of the initial delay allowed to the U.S.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- The United States has agreed to a South Korea-proposed
timetable for relocating its military command here out of Seoul by 2014, but the
sides remain split on when to complete the relocation of a frontline U.S. army
base, officials here said Monday.
The U.S. proposed last year that the relocation of Yongsan Garrison to
Pyeongtaek, about 50 kilometers south of Seoul, be completed by 2016, citing
pressure in costs.
The U.S. recently withdrew the proposal when its top commander here met with
South Korea's defense minister in Seoul, South Korean officials said on condition
of anonymity.
But the officials added the two sides have yet to finalize the year for the
relocation of a major U.S. infantry division near the border with North Korea to
Pyeongtaek.
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) declined a request for confirmation, but one
official said costs could be a factor in U.S. difficulties in moving the 2nd
Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek by 2014.
The relocation is part of a wider U.S. realignment project aimed at streamlining
American troops abroad, and it comes as South Korea is pushing to shoulder
greater responsibilities for frontline defense by receiving back the wartime
operational control of its troops.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War
that ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty. The U.S. has retained the
wartime command since the conflict, and plans to return it by 2012.
The U.S. had already delayed the target years for the two major relocations in
July. The USFK sought a further delay late last year, estimating the expansion of
its Pyeongtaek base to accommodate the relocation by 2015 would require US$600
million annually, twice the budget it could procure.
South Korea balked, saying the delay would drastically raise its share of the
costs due to annual commodity price hikes. Seoul's defense ministry estimates the
total relocation costs would increase by nearly 50 percent, with Seoul
shouldering over 5 trillion won because of the initial delay allowed to the U.S.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
