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 Air Force has finished resurrecting a B-1B Lancer, completing a yearslong process to transform a bomber that had been stored for parts in the Arizona desert into the new flagship of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.