U.S. Defense Secretary Says South Korea's Defense Spending Increase Is a Realistic Decision... 'Applaud Its Pragmatism and Leadership'

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[Financial News] U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on the 30th local time that South Korea's decision to raise defense spending showed "the pragmatism and leadership of the South Korean government."
\rAccording to foreign media outlets, including Politico, Hegseth said at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Asia Security Summit held in Singapore that day, "The era when the United States subsidized the defense of wealthy countries is over." He added, "If you want to see what burden-sharing looks like, look at the Republic of Korea."
He stressed that allies should increase their own defense spending and strengthen their security responsibilities and defense capabilities.
Hegseth said, "South Korea has continued to invest in its own defense because it cannot afford to think of war as an academic concept." He added, "They live on the front line and have built a strong fighting force."
He went on to say that President Lee Jae-myung's decision to raise defense spending to 3.5% and take on greater responsibility for conventional defense reflected a clear-eyed understanding of the threat environment. He added, "I applaud that pragmatism and leadership."
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jisseo@fnnews.com Seo Min-ji Reporter