Seoul, Sep 27
South Korea had "constructive" talks with the United States this week to advance the negotiations for determining Seoul's share of the cost for the upkeep of American troops here, a Seoul official said Friday.
The allies wrapped up the three-day defence cost-sharing talks in Seoul, amid growing speculation that the two sides might be nearing an end to renew the multi-year deal for stationing 28,500-strong US soldiers in South Korea, news agency reported.
"South Korea and the United States held constructive discussions aimed at narrowing their differences on key issues of mutual interest," a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
Since the negotiations were launched in April, eight rounds of talks have taken place, giving rise to the possibility that the two sides may soon strike a new Special Measures Agreement (SMA).
Seoul and Washington could reach a new deal before the end of this year, citing incumbent and former US officials.
Following the seventh round of the talks in August, Linda Specht, the US chief negotiator, said that the two countries had made "good progress" toward an agreement.
The latest negotiations are taking place amid speculation that South Korea is seeking an early deal to avoid tough bargaining in case former US President Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Under Trump's presidency, Washington demanded more than a fivefold increase in Seoul's payment to $5 billion.