S. Korea close to pact on U.S. base move

SEOUL, April 23 (UPI) -- South Korea and the United States are close to completing an agreement to relocate U.S. bases south of Seoul, government and military sources said Thursday.

"The two sides have practically agreed to complete the U.S. base relocation by 2015, though a few technical issues need to be further ironed out," an unidentified South Korean source told The Korea Times.

Negotiations are to resume next week to determine costs, which under a 2007 plan required Seoul to pay for just more than half of the estimated $10 billion relocation, Yonhap reported Thursday.

The negotiations at Combined Forces Command have been led by South Korean Vice Defense Minister Chang Soo-man and U.S. Gen. Walter Sharp.

The relocation would including moving Yongsan Garrison and the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division to an expanded Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, Yonhap reported.

The United States has 28,500 troops based in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea.