Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Outcomes of 21st meeting of Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD)

The Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense and the United States (US) Secretary of Defense held the 21st meeting of the Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Seoul from August 16 to August 17, 2022.

During the meeting, delegations from the two sides reaffirmed their common goal of completely denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, and agreed to maintain a state of readiness in which the ROK-US combined forces can defend the ROK. 

Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Heo Tae-keun and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Siddharth Mohandas co-hosted the KIDD high-level meeting. During the meeting, the two sides shared the view that the security environment in the region and around the world has become more complicated. 

At the ‘ROK-US Deterrence Strategy Committee (DSC)’ meeting, Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Heo Tae-keun, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Narang, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Mohandas shared the view that the revision of the ROK-US tailored deterrence strategy (TDS), which had been discussed at the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), has made progress.

At the ‘Security Policy Initiative (SPI)’ meeting, the two sides reaffirmed that the ROK-US alliance is the linchpin of building peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

At the Conditions-based OPCON Transition Working Group (COTWG) meeting, the two sides shared the view that the OPCON transition to the future combined forces command has made progress, and reaffirmed the mutual commitment which meets three conditions of the 「Conditions-based Operational Control Transition Plan (COTP)」 on which the two countries had reached an agreement.

The two sides made the assessment that the 21st meeting of KIDD has reaffirmed the solidarity of the ROK-US alliance, strengthened the ROK-US alliance cooperation, and enhanced the ROK-US combined defense posture.