South Korea has appointed Jeong Eun-bo as Seoul's new chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing talks with the U.S.
He had long served at South Korea's finance ministry and was vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission.
It's rare for Seoul to select someone from the financial realm to lead such negotiations.
Previously, the talks were led by officials from the foreign or defense ministries.
This is being seen as Seoul's intention to send someone who is strong with numbers and who will not easily back down in the face of U.S. demands.
Washington wants Seoul to pay a lot more for the stationing of American troops in South Korea.