Seoul: South Korea's foreign ministry announced its intent to adhere to the current terms of the defense cost-sharing agreement with the United States, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Seoul should bear the cost of its own defense.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry confirmed that it will implement the 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which was agreed upon and is currently in effect. This statement comes after President Trump commented that South Korea contributes "very little" towards the costs of American military support and indicated a desire for the country to assume a larger share of its security expenses.

The 12th SMA, signed last year by Seoul and Washington, stipulates that South Korea will contribute 1.52 trillion won (approximately US$1.11 billion) in the upcoming year, an increase from 1.4 trillion won this year.