Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB NHL Golf Horse Racing Tennis Col. Football Col. Basketball
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features Archives
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Archive Almanac
About Feedback
About Feedback
Search
Trending
'El Chapo'
Jussie Smollett
Plastic pollution
Trampoline break
Lottery
Syria troops
Jeffrey Epstein
Michael Cohen
Terror plot
Measles
Doorbell cam
World News
Dec. 21, 2018 / 9:36 AM

Mattis departure sending ripples in South Korea, analyst says

By
Elizabeth Shim
U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis' departure is raising concerns in Seoul, South Korea, according to a press report. Photo by EPA-EFE/Song Kyung-seok

Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis is sending ripples throughout South Korea's policy community amid a lack of bilateral consensus on military burden-sharing for U.S. forces on the peninsula, according to a press report.

Park Hwee-rhak, a political scientist at Kookmin University in Seoul, said Mattis' planned departure has "unnerved" the U.S.-South Korea alliance, Stars and Stripes reported Thursday.

"I think Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria completely and swiftly has unnerved the U.S.-South Korean alliance ... It shows the United States won't play the role of the world's policeman despite a desire to do so from the president's advisers, including the defense secretary," Park said, according to the report.

Since Trump met with Kim Jong Un in June, Washington and Seoul have canceled several defense exercises -- most recently Vigilant Ace, an annual drill held in December.

RELATED North Korea set up insurance firms

The president had called the joint exercises "provocative" and had asked South Korea to pay more for the presence of U.S. troops on the peninsula.

The most recent talks on the Special Measures Agreements ended without an accord, after Trump reportedly asked Seoul to double its contribution to more than $1 billion.

The Trump administration has become amenable to proposals from Seoul on inter-Korea exchange, however.

RELATED North Korea: 'Bizarre' U.S. must show signs of denuclearization

News 1 reported Friday South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-yong met with U.S. special envoy on North Korea Stephen Biegun to discuss inter-Korea projects.

Biegun, who is in the South for talks, visited the border area of Panmunjom on Wednesday.

According to South Korea's presidential Blue House, Chung and Biegun discussed a "wide range of measures to promote cooperation with North Korea, including denuclearization and humanitarian assistance."

RELATED Inter-Korea peace process poses challenges for ASEAN

Biegun and South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon agreed Seoul should go ahead with an inter-Korea railroad project, according to News 1.

  • Topics
  • James Mattis
  • Kim Jong Un
  • Chung Eui-yong
  • North Korea
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more UPI news and photos.

Trending Stories

2 sons of 'El Chapo' indicted by U.S. on drug conspiracy charges
Police: Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged with soliciting prostitutes
Judge: Prosecutors broke law by concealing Jeffrey Epstein plea deal
Maduro closes border with Brazil amid aid flap
IRS analyst charged with leaking Michael Cohen's bank records

Photo Gallery

 
The 1975, Dua Lipa walk Brit Awards red carpet

Latest News

Fortune cookie's advice leads man to $100,000 jackpot
Boeing tapped for F-15E warning system development, testing
BAE awarded $23.2M contract for post shakedown of USS Thomas Hudner
Army to test lighter body armor vest as part of total protection system
'Young Sheldon': CBS renews series for two more seasons
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy