<Anchor> With the

delay in the negotiations between the United States and South Korea to negotiate a share of defense expenses, some Korean workers who had entered unpaid leave were able to return to work. The U.S. accepted the government's proposal to pay Korean workers' labor costs first.

Reporter Hak-Woo Kim.

<Reporter> The

U.S. Department of Defense issued a statement and said, "We have accepted South Korea's proposal to pay labor costs to USFK Korean workers."

By the end of the year, the Pentagon explained that the government will provide more than US$200 million in funding and KRW 230 billion in Korean money.

However, he said he expects Korean workers on unpaid leave to return by the middle of this month.

As the gap between the defense expenditure agreements that expired last year has increased, the USFK has left about 4,000 Korean workers unpaid since April 1st.

The ROK and the United States have negotiated seven times over the share of defense expenses, but have not reached an agreement.

In particular, in order to prevent large-scale unpaid leave of absence from Korean workers in the USFK, the Korean government has suggested that the Korean government pay first, but the US has refused to settle the defense cost or not.

The Pentagon said the United States welcomed the Korean workers' preferential payment of labor costs and halted unpaid leave.

However, it is expected that it will take some time for the defense negotiations to be completed.

We have proposed a 13% increase, but the US is said to be in talks with the 50% increase, demanding $1.3 billion.