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Friday, October 18, 2019, 21:24
South Korea police detain 19 students at US envoy's residence
By Reuters
Friday, October 18, 2019, 21:24 By Reuters

Admiral Harry Harris, then commander of the United States Pacific Command, waits for arrival of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (not in picture) before their meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo on April 26, 2018. (ISSEI KATO / POOL / AFP)

SEOUL - Nineteen student from the Republic of Korea demonstrators were detained on Friday after a group illegally entering the grounds of the US ambassador's residence in Seoul, police said.

READ MORE: S. Korea, US to launch talks over cost-sharing for US Forces Korea

The group, which identifies itself as a coalition of progressive university students, posted photos on its Facebook account in which several members climbed over the wall of the house of Ambassador Harry Harris using ladders.

Any harm or attack on such a diplomatic mission cannot be justified under any circumstances, and the government will take all appropriate measures to protect the missions and prevent any acts that disturb their wellbeing

ROK Foreign Ministry

In a separate video, apparently broadcast live from inside the compound, they accused the United States of demanding a 500% hike in the costs for the upkeep of some 28,500 troops in the ROK, holding a banner saying "Leave this soil Harris."

The two countries are currently in talks over how to share the expense of the US military presence.

"Stop interfering with our domestic affairs," they shouted, followed by other chants "Get out", and "We don't need US troops", before being marched out of the residence by police.

The US Embassy in Seoul referred questions to the State Department in Washington. 

The ROK's foreign ministry said it had requested increased security for the US embassy and the ambassador’s residence.

"Any harm or attack on such a diplomatic mission cannot be justified under any circumstances, and the government will take all appropriate measures to protect the missions and prevent any acts that disturb their wellbeing," the ministry said in a statement.

A police official told Reuters that 19 students were taken to a police station for questioning.

The students also attempted to break into the US Embassy in Seoul last January before being stopped by police.

The two countries are currently in talks over how to share the expense of keeping the US troops who guard against the threat from nuclear-armed Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.

A fresh round of talks will be held in Hawaii on Oct. 23-24 to negotiate a deal that will replace one due to expire at the end of this year, the foreign ministry said.

"Our government will have close discussions under our basic stance that we will have a fair, reasonable share of the costs,”the ministry said in a statement. "We expect the talks will take place in a way that reinforces the alliance and joint defence posture."

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