Correction at 23:10 KST (March 9): This article has been amended to reflect that the 10th SMA expired at the end of 2019.

The U.S. and South Korea have reached an agreement on the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA), according to Seoul’s foreign ministry on March 8. This is great news for the alliance because it strengthens the defense, stability and economy of not only South Korea, but also the U.S.

The 10th SMA expired at the end of 2019, the result of years of inconclusive negotiations between Washington and Seoul during the Trump administration. The Moon