A statement from US Forces Korea says the recently concluded talks on the funding needed to sustain maintenance and transformation of US forces in South Korea puts Seoul’s 2007-2008 contribution at $789 million and “represents less than 15 percent of total annual US expenditures.” It noted that the 2007 level will “meet less than 41 percent of USFK non-personnel stationing costs.” According to the statement, USFK commander, Army Gen. B.B. Bell believes the 2007 funding level “does not meet the expectations of the United States on equitable burden sharing, not US Forces Korea requirements.” He plans to present recommendations to the Administration as how to best “adjust to this funding shortfall.”
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
