Turning to the ongoing negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. on defense cost sharing. <br />Seoul says the deal appears to be on a "difficult" path,... referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's push to get South Korea to pay more for the tens of thousands of American troops deployed here. <br />Oh Jung-hee reports. <br /><br /> <br /> South Korea and the United States have begun a new round of negotiations... on sharing the cost of stationing U.S. forces in South Korea,... and Seoul says the talks could be "tough."<br />Last week, foreign affairs and defense officials from Seoul and Washington met in Hawaii... for the first round of negotiations on what's called the Special Measures Agreement.<br /> Briefing reporters on the results,... Seoul's foreign ministry called it an exploratory and basic exchange of opinions.<br /> It added that from now on the negotiation process could become more difficult... and require more than just one or two meetings.<br /> But the ministry also said both sides agree that the costs have to be shared in a way that strengthens the Seoul-Washington alliance and their combined defense posture.<br /> The two sides agreed to meet again in South Korea next month.<br /><br />Since 1967,... the U.S. has covered the financial costs of its troops in South Korea... while Seoul provided the land and facilities.<br /> But starting from 1991, the two sides started to share the costs under the Special Measures Agreements, or SMA.<br />The ninth SMA, signed in 2014, expires this year, which is why Seoul and Washington are to looking to sign a tenth one for the years to come.<br /> The costs include the hiring of South Korean workers at U.S. bases,... facility contruction and logistical support.<br /> South Korea is known to have covered roughly 45 to 50 percent of the total cost... to the tune of almost 900 million U.S. dollars.<br />Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News. <br />
