U.S.-Korea Special Measures Agreement

Devising a concrete plan to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and recalibrating its policy on North Korea would be top priorities for Seoul over the next two months.

Three points of friction could emerge over policy toward North Korea, host-nation support, and China policy.

The former president called into question the U.S. force presence in Korea – the foundation for the alliance.

A statement from the former president is a stark reminder of his transactional approach to both Koreas.

Seoul and Washington finally agreed on how to split the bill for the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, but have not revealed details. 

With a new administration in Washington, Seoul welcomed the chance to resume SMA negotiations that have been stalled for nearly a year. 

"One dismisses the president’s longstanding beliefs that allies such as South Korea are free riders at one’s own peril."

Pushing for vastly increased contributions when Japan and South face looming recessions amid an ongoing pandemic will not serve U.S. interests.

The ongoing nature of the coronavirus crisis merits a rethink to both countries' approaches to the SMA talks.

Tracing near-term, structural, and strategic divergences in the alliance.

If Washington and Seoul can’t narrow the gap on their cost-sharing talks thousands of Koreans could start missing paychecks.