With over a number of security-related issues to be discussed between South Korea and the U.S.,... the two sides held their annual Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul this morning.<br />And the two sides are going to hold a joint press conference soon... to talk about what decisions were made during the meeting.<br />Kim Min-ji starts us off.<br />South Korea's Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper sat down in Seoul on Friday for their annual Security Consultative Meeting.<br />While details of the meeting will be announced during a joint press conference later in the day,... pressing issues such as GSOMIA and shared defense costs likely topped the agenda.<br />The meeting has drawn a lot of attention,... given that it comes just a week before Seoul's military intel-sharing pact with Tokyo expires on November 23rd.<br />Seoul announced its intent to withdraw from the pact in August... after Japan slapped export curbs on South Korea,... citing a breach of trust on security issues.<br />The U.S. has been pushing South Korea to extend the agreement,... saying it's vital for trilateral security cooperation... and to cope with regional threats.<br />But Seoul continues to insist that reconsideration can only take place if Japan first changes course.<br />On the issue of defense-cost sharing... the U.S. side is expected to have pressed South Korea to drastically increase its share of the funds needed to station American troops on the Korean peninsula.<br />Washington is reportedly calling on Seoul to pay nearly five billion U.S. dollars a year,... which is more than five times the amount South Korea agreed to pay under the current deal.<br />On his way to Seoul,... Esper said the U.S. had already requested a significant increase,... but didn't elaborate.<br />Another talking point: Seoul retaking wartime operational control from Washington.<br />The allies have already conducted joint training to test Seoul's initial operational capability for the envisioned transfer with Jeong and Esper expected to have assessed the results at Friday's meeting.<br />Later in the day,... Esper will sit down for talks with President Moon Jae-in.... with speculation they could touch upon sensitive issues like GSOMIA.<br />President Moon will likely reiterate why Seoul is unable to reverse its decision to end the intelligence sharing pact... without a major change in Japan's attitude on historical and trade issues.<br />Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.<br />
