dijlahpoint - Fact-checking reports have refuted recent claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump alleging that the South Korean government agreed to pay billions of dollars annually for U.S. military defense. Official Pentagon data confirms that Seoul does not make direct payments for the defense presence. Furthermore, official records indicate that U.S. troop levels in South Korea stand at approximately 26,000 personnel, contradicting earlier public statements asserting a far higher military deployment.