News Zone

Recent News

ROK/U.S. defense chiefs agree on the importance of maintaining the continuity of the alliance

Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho had a phone conversation with new U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

They reaffirmed their ironclad commitment and promised cooperation.

 

Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho and new U.S. D


Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho and new U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had their first phone call on January 31.

 

The two defense chiefs reaffirmed the steadfast alliance between the two nations and concurred on the need to advance and deepen its level and scope They also pledged to maintain a robust combined defense posture to deter the North’s provocations and agreed to remain in close contact to address outstanding issues moving forward with the aim of developing the ROK/U.S. alliance into a “global comprehensive alliance.”

 

Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho and new U.S. Defense Secretary Pete B. Hegseth discussed these things in their first phone conversation on January 31.

 

Kim congratulated Secretary Hegseth on his inauguration and expressed his expectations that he will perform his duties with excellence amid a grave international security situation.

 

Defense Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the United States to defending South Korea and vowed to cooperate closely with South Korea to cement the bilateral alliance based on longstanding trust and friendship.

 

They particularly noted the performance of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, which has stood as a “linchpin” for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region over the past 70 years. Noting North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats, the defense chiefs agreed that sustaining the alliance through their combined defense posture and management of outstanding issues is more important than ever to effectively deter and respond to such threats.

 

The defense chiefs expressed concerns about the deepening military alignment of North Korea and Russia. They noted that Russia-North Korea military cooperation poses serious threat to the entire world as well as the Korean Peninsula and pledged to respond to the global security threat together with the international community

 

Both sides agreed to continue to maintain and advance trilateral security cooperation among Korea, the United States and Japan on the back of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, thereby deterring North Korea’s threats in the Indo-Pacific region as well as on the Korean Peninsula.


 By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr > 

<Copyright ⓒ The Korea Defense Daily, All rights reserved> 

File

  • (Presentation and Follow-on discussion)