US made no request on USFK base site ownership transfer: foreign ministry

South Korea has received no request from the United States to hand over ownership of land hosting U.S. troops stationed in the country, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump raised the idea during a summit with President Lee Jae Myung. At Monday's summit at the White House, Trump said that he wants to ask Seoul to give his country "ownership" of land South Korea provides to host the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), apparently referring to the Pyeongtaek base south of Seoul. Trump's remarks came at a time when the U.S. approach to reshape alliances, including reorienting the role and size of the USFK, has become an important issue for South Korea. The "strategic flexibility" of the USFK, under the drive for "alliance modernization," is rooted in Washington's primary focus on countering an assertive China and carries significant security implications for Seoul, which views the USFK's mission as deterring North Korea. "There was no request on the transfer of land ownership," a foreign ministry official said. "We provide various direct and indirect supWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times