Seoul pushes back on US call for allies to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP



News Seoul pushes back on US call for allies to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP ROK defense ministry highlights budget increases to counter North Korean threats amid US push for ‘burden sharing’ Jooheon Kim June 20, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON ROK Naval Special Warfare Flotilla operators undergo winter training \| Image: ROK navy via Facebook (Jan. 18, 2017) South Korea’s defense ministry has pushed back against calls from Washington for allies to sharply raise military spending, stressing that Seoul already has one of the highest defense spending rates among U.S. partners and continues to boost its budget to counter North Korean threats. The remarks come in response to a call from U.S. Secretary for Defense Pete Hegseth for American allies — including South Korea — to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP as part of the Trump administration’s push to increase “burden sharing.” South Korea’s defense ministry has pushed back against calls from Washington for allies to sharply raise military spending, stressing that Seoul already has one of the highest defense spending rates among U.S. partners and continues to boost its budget to counter North Korean threats. The remarks come in response to a call from U.S. Secretary for Defense Pete Hegseth for American allies — including South Korea — to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP as part of the Trump administration’s push to increase “burden sharing.” Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

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Seoul pushes back on US call for allies to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP

ROK defense ministry highlights budget increases to counter North Korean threats amid US push for ‘burden sharing’

Jooheon Kim June 20, 2025

Seoul pushes back on US call for allies to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP

ROK Naval Special Warfare Flotilla operators undergo winter training | Image: ROK navy via Facebook (Jan. 18, 2017)

South Korea’s defense ministry has pushed back against calls from Washington for allies to sharply raise military spending, stressing that Seoul already has one of the highest defense spending rates among U.S. partners and continues to boost its budget to counter North Korean threats.

The remarks come in response to a call from U.S. Secretary for Defense Pete Hegseth for American allies — including South Korea — to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP as part of the Trump administration’s push to increase “burden sharing.”

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Seoul pushes back on US call for allies to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP

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