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Cost-sharing negotiations between the U.S. and South Korea continue. Yes, that would be the sharing of the costs of defending South Korea with U.S. troops. Although the Pentagon will withdraw a third of its troops over the next few years, it’s not at all interested in continuing to bear the same burden of the cost for its wealthy host. South Korea is balking, and the negotiations have stalled. What this Korea Herald article does not mention is that although the United States is cutting manpower, it is also ponying up some very expensive hardware, including improved missile defense capability.

The best way to cut costs, of course, is to accelerate the withdrawal of heavy mechanized and armored forces that we’re unlikely to need in Korea, but which are inviting targets for NorthKorean artillery, missiles, and special ops. Indeed, if there were to be a conflict between the United States and North Korea, about half of the South Korean people believe that their country should either remain neutral or side with the North (more details here). South Korea is not only fully capable of defending itself, even its fitness for the term “ally” is highly questionable.