ZCZC
BFF-13
SKOREA-US-DIPLOMACY-DEFENCE
Thousands of Korean workers for US military put on leave in cash row
SEOUL, April 1, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Around 4,000 South Koreans working for the
US military in their country were put on unpaid leave Wednesday as Seoul and
Washington bicker over funding for US forces.
Washington stations 28,500 troops in the country to defend it against the
nuclear-armed North, but the security allies’ relationship has been strained
by US demands that the South pay billions of dollars more towards their
costs.
The Trump administration initially insisted on $5 billion a year — a more
than fivefold increase.
US officials say they have since “compromised” on the figures but seven
rounds of negotiations, the most recent in mid-March, have failed to reach a
deal.
The previous Special Measures Agreement, as the funding pact is known,
expired at the end of December and US Forces Korea (USFK) said last month it
would be forced to start putting Korean employees on leave from April 1 when
funds to pay their salaries ran out.
“This is an unfortunate day for us… it’s unthinkable…it’s
heartbreaking,” USFK commander Robert Abrams said in a statement on
Wednesday.
“These are our employees, our co-workers, our teammates, and we consider
them family,” he added. “They are vital to our mission.”
The furloughs so far apply to almost half USFK’s near-9,000 South Korean
staff.
They come as Seoul and the US military battle the ongoing coronavirus
outbreak — 13 cases related to USFK have been confirmed — and with North
Korea carrying out a series of weapons launches.
“The US has put citizens of its security ally and their livelihood in
jeopardy,” Son Gio, secretary general of USFK Korean Employees Union, told
AFP.
“President Trump is also putting lives of US soldiers stationed in South
Korea in danger, as the furlough will make things worse for those who have
already been affected by the coronavirus outbreak within the bases.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s furlough, South Korean negotiator Jeong Eun-bo said
Seoul and Washington had “substantially narrowed” their differences and were
“at the final stage of coordination to settle a deal.”
“We urge the US to take measures to make sure the employees subject to the
furlough scheme can swiftly go back to work,” he said, adding the move could
undermine military readiness on the peninsula.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1022 hrs