February 14, 2008                                                                 www.tauscher.house.gov

Rep. Ellen Tauscher and Rep. Ed Royce Introduce Legislation to Improve Defense Cooperation with South Korea

Legislation would upgrade South Korea's foreign military sales status

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), introduced legislation to improve defense cooperation between the militaries of the U.S. and the Republic of Korea.  If approved, the legislation would give South Korea the same preferential treatment for foreign military sales as afforded members of NATO, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan ("NATO+3").  Rep. Tauscher and Rep. Royce are senior members of the House Armed Services Committee, and House Foreign Affairs Committee respectively.  Both have recently traveled to South Korea. 

“South Korea is a vital, strategic, and long time ally, and they should be treated as such.  By upgrading their status to improve interoperability between our militaries and better protect the 29,000 American service men and women who are stationed in South Korea, it's really a true win-win situation.”

Purchases of U.S. defense articles and equipment enhance the interoperability between the armed forces of the United States and the Republic of Korea.  South Korea is a larger foreign military sales partner than any of the "NATO+3" members.  Last year, Seoul purchased over $3.7 billion worth of American defense articles, making it the largest cash-paying partner in U.S. foreign military sales.  South Korea has formally requested this status through its Foreign and Defense Ministries. 

"South Korea, an ally of 60 years and host to 29,000 U.S. troops does not enjoy the most preferential treatment when it comes to defense sales.  It is time to fix this anomaly," said Rep. Royce upon the bill's introduction.  Royce also serves as the Vice Chair of the U.S.-Republic of Korea Inter-parliamentary Exchange. 

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