U.S. and South Korean Statement on Status of Forces Agreement
NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
(PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
October 19, 2000
JOINT U.S.-ROK STATEMENT ON THE OCTOBER 17-18 SOFA NEGOTIATIONS
Delegations from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States met
Oct. 17-18 at the Pentagon in Washington for negotiation to revise the
U.S.-ROK Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Song Min-soon, director
general of the North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), led the ROK delegation, which included
representatives of the relevant ministries. Frederick C. Smith, deputy
assistant secretary of Defense for Asia-Pacific affairs, led the U.S.
delegation, which included representatives from the Department of
Defense and the Department of State.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of the ROK-US security alliance
and the need to revise the SOFA as soon as possible to reinforce that
alliance.
There was significant progress on the issue of criminal custody and
associated legal assurances. Although there are a number of areas that
still need to be resolved, the two delegations have built a working
draft that includes a number of areas of agreement.
The two delegations have also had useful and substantial discussions
on other significant issues such as the environment; use of facilities
and areas by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK); quarantine of animals and
plants; working conditions for Korean employees of USFK; control of
Korean nationals' access to USFK's non-appropriated fund facilities;
civil proceedings; and, the scope of persons accorded status under
SOFA.
Both sides agreed to hold the next round of talks in November.
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