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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Trump suggests South Korea may pay a price for refusing Iran support

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Donald Trump said South Korea declined a request to support U.S. military operations involving Iran and said such decisions should be remembered.
  • He linked U.S. support for allies to possible financial returns, citing South Korea and the American troops stationed there.
  • Trump’s comments suggest that trade or defense-cost demands could become part of future U.S.-South Korean discussions.

Donald Trump has again singled out South Korea over its refusal to support U.S. military operations involving Iran, saying, “Such things should be remembered.” The remark suggested that Washington could seek compensation in future disputes over trade or defense costs.

Such things should be remembered.

— Donald TrumpTrump referred to South Korea’s refusal to support U.S. military operations involving Iran.

In a Fox News interview released on June 30, Trump said the United States had received “very little help” from other countries while clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the United States spends billions of dollars helping NATO members and countries such as South Korea, then argued that Washington should not continue helping allies that would not act when asked.

Trump used South Korea as his example, saying, “They want our help,” and claiming that the United States has 40,000 troops there. The actual number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea is about 28,500.

You cannot be stupid and help them when they are unwilling to step up for you.

— Donald TrumpHe argued that U.S. support for allies should bring corresponding benefits.

He said he had asked South Korea whether it could “help a little” with the issue of the Islamic Republic of Iran, but that Seoul responded it would be better not to do so. Trump has voiced the same complaint several times, including on June 16, when he said South Korea had rejected his request for support for U.S. military operations against Iran. His latest comments framed the refusal as something that could affect how the alliance is handled in the future.

They want our help.

— Donald TrumpTrump introduced South Korea as an example of an ally seeking U.S. support.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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