Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the U.S. has requested more time to prepare a joint fact sheet outlining the agreements the two sides reached on security following their August and October summits.

At a special committee on budgets and accounts session on Thursday, Cho said the U.S. State Department sent the message when asked to explain the reasons behind the delay in its announcement.

The minister said the two sides require more time to consult and review the items that were handled, and that they have exchanged a draft close to a final agreement.

Cho said that several U.S. departments were involved in the sign-off beyond those related to defense and energy.

The minister said Washington had proposed that the agreement be inked as a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU), similar to those it secured with Tokyo and Brussels.

Cho said Seoul will seek parliamentary consent during the legislative process for any matters that could burden the South Korean people.