'We will defend S. Korea and Japan,' Trump tones down

'We will defend S. Korea and Japan,' Trump tones down. May. 23, 2016 07:37. by 워싱턴=이승헌 특파원ddr@donga.com. "As far as Japan and South Korea are concerned, all I'm saying is we defend them,” U.S. Republic presidential candidate Donald Trump (aged 70, photo) said on Friday at an interview with MSNBC. The comment is quite contrasting as he has explicitly said that U.S. Forces would withdraw if South Korea doesn’t pay more defense cost or South Korea should pay 100 percent for U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

“U.S. has 28,000 soldiers on the line between South and North Korea and we can’t afford it. I want Seoul and Tokyo to pay more for American defense support,” he said. The presidential hopeful means that Korea should pay more than 930 billion Korea won (approx. 782.7 million U.S. dollars) that Seoul paid last year. “They are paying us a tiny fraction of what it's costing. I want them to pay," Trump said. “They have a lot of money, both of those nations. Japan sell," he said pointing to Japan's auto sales and South Korea's electronics industry. "We have to get reimbursed."

One of Trump’s aides for Asian policy has recently said in an interview with the Dong-A Ilbo, “His strong comment on Korean peninsula is aimed for domestic purpose. South Korea doesn’t need to worry about.” In this context, it is expected that he could modify his diplomatic commitment when he is elected as the presidential candidate at a national convention this July.

Trump met Henry Kissinger, former United States Secretary of State who is known as Diplomacy Sage, on last Wednesday, and will meet Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, on Monday.

As for the controversy over his comment that he would talk with Kim Jong Un, the Republican candidate said, “I’m willing to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but wouldn't go to North Korea. The last thing I do is go.”