Trump tells SK they need to pay for missle defense

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SEOUL, South Korea — President Trump’s comment that he wants South Korea to pay for a missile defense system being set up in the country jolted its presidential race on Friday and surprised the government, leaving it scrambling to figure out the intentions of a close ally.In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Mr. Trump said that he wanted South Korea to pay for the system, known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, whose cost he estimated at $1 billion

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Contrary to Mr. Trump’s remarks, South Korea has repeatedly said that it would provide the land and build the base needed for the Thaad missile battery and that the United States would pay for the deployment, operation and maintenance of the system, which was purchased from Lockheed Martin.

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On Friday, the South Korean Defense Ministry said it was not changing that stance. Some wondered whether the government had made a secret agreement under which South Korea would help pay for the system. The government must clarify whether Mr. Trump’s comments reflect his “unilateral wishful thinking” or whether there is such a deal that has not been shared with the public, Son Kum-ju, a spokesman of the opposition People’s Party, said on Friday.

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