The six-year U.S.-ROK cost-sharing deal over Seoul’s contribution for the U.S. troop presence in South Korea went into effect on Wednesday, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign affairs (MOFA), following the National Assembly’s ratification of the agreement a day earlier. 

Also known as the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), the cost-sharing deal signed in April requires Seoul to raise its contribution for the stationing of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) annually between 2022 and 2025 proportional to its defense budget increases. 

South Korea’s parliament passed the deal with 133 yes votes from 160 lawmakers present at a session on Tuesday,