Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[In 19th Asia Security Summit]
ROK, US hold defense ministerial talks

On June 11, Saturday, Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop held defense ministerial talks with his American counterpart Lloyd J. Austin III on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore. During the meeting, the two ministers discussed ▴ cooperation on the policy toward North Korea and extended deterrence, ▴ combined readiness posture, and ▴ security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two ministers shared the view that close coordination between the two countries is more important than ever in light of the grave situation in the region including the Korean Peninsula.

Austin underscored that the US will continue to provide its extended deterrence to the ROK by using all available military capabilities including defense capabilities for nuclear and conventional arms and missiles.

The two ministers agreed to expand the scope and scale of ROK-US combined military exercises and training, which were agreed on at the latest ROK-US summit, to maintain a firm military readiness and 'fight tonight' readiness, and they also agreed to seek concrete action plans through consultations between the military authorities. In addition, the two sides discussed ways to reinforce the US extended deterrence.

The two ministers also noted that US forces’ stable and free access to the military training facilities in the ROK is the key to maintaining the combined defense posture and fight tonight readiness.

In line with the agreement made between the presidents of the two countries in their last summit, the two ministers underscored the joint commitment in which the two countries will upgrade the ROK-US alliance as a linchpin of peace and prosperity in the region to a comprehensive global strategic alliance that contributes to security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world, on the basis of universal values such as freedom and human rights.