South Korean officials continue to evince concern over the US timetable for moving American forces to a central location just south of Seoul—primarily expressing dismay about the cost sharing burden. Stars and Stripes reports that a South Korean defense official told Yonhap news that Seoul cannot meet the 2008 timetable and believes five years is more realistic. Washington and Seoul have been wrangling for months over the transfer of control of forces in South Korea and an equitable cost sharing agreement. The recently concluded cost sharing agreement to fund 2007-08 costs elicited a statement of concern from the USFK commander, US Army Gen. B.B. Bell, who said the 2007 level would meet less than 41 percent of costs.
The Space Development Agency wants to launch hundreds of satellites into low-Earth orbit over the next few years—and thanks to a new contract, it now has a way to get rid of some when their service life is over.
