<Anchor> While

negotiations over USFK defense costs are struggling, President Trump also said South Korea has agreed to pay considerable money. I had said the same thing last month, but it seems to be an intention to press the government by realizing the increase.

This is Correspondent Correspondent Kim Yun-soo of Washington.

<Reporter>

President Trump brought out the issue of defense expenses while exchanging questions with reporters at the White House today (8th).

President Trump says the United States has been exploited by allies and enemies, and if the United States protects other countries, they should pay their contributions to respect the United States.

Then he said that South Korea agreed to raise the contribution.

[President Trump / US: South Korea has agreed to pay significant money to the United States. I am very grateful.]

President Trump claimed on the 29th of last month that South Korea had agreed to pay a lot of money, but the Blue House countered that there was no agreement.

At the end of March, the ROK-US Defense Forces Negotiation Group made a provisional agreement that was 13% higher than last year, but after President Trump rejected it, key US officials have been pressing publicly to increase the contribution.

President Trump's remarks today also seem to be trying to keep up with the pressures when negotiations are suspended.

Recently, the United States is known to have proposed a contribution of approximately 1.3 trillion dollars and approximately 1.5 trillion won to Korea.

In terms of the increase rate, it is about 49%, which is different from the 13% of the provisional agreement.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the results of the negotiations should be reasonable and fair to all sides, making it difficult to accept US proposals.