Former President Donald Trump wanted South Korea to cover all costs for the stationing of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) at a key military base as well as a “profit margin” during his presidency, according to a memoir of a former U.S. national security adviser published Tuesday.

In the book, titled, “At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House,” H.R. McMaster, who served as national security adviser from 2017-18, revealed an anecdote in November 2017, when Trump toured Camp Humphreys, a sprawling USFK base in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.

The memoir came amid speculation that should the Republican presidential candidate win the White House for a second term in the Nov. 5 general election, he could employ what is viewed as his “transactional” approach toward alliances.

“I am sure Brooks was surprised when Trump stated that the agreement should be the equivalent of a cost-plus contract, with the South Koreans reimbursing all U.S. costs plus a profit margin,” McMaster wrote in t
he book, referring to Gen. Vincent Brooks, who led the USFK at the time.

Source: Yonhap News Agency