Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho met with US Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth at the Defense Ministry on Wednesday morning, July 31, 2024, and discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and ways to develop the ROK-US alliance.

Vice Defense Minister Kim stressed that North Korea’s continued flying of trash-filled balloons is a clear violation of the Korean War Armistice Agreement and poses a threat to the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea, and both officials made it clear that such provocations by the North were counterproductive and called on it to stop immediately.

Both sides also expressed deep concern over the possible impact of Russian-North Korean military cooperation on regional and world peace and security and said that they would respond firmly in close cooperation with the international community.

Vice Minister Kim expressed his gratitude to Secretary Wormuth as 28,500 US troops play a pivotal role in maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula with an overwhelming combined defense posture.

He appreciated the active support of the US Department of the Army to the Eighth United States Army and the US 2nd Infantry Division, which are the core of US forces in Korea.

Both officials agreed that the South Korea and the United States have broadened and deepened the scope and scale of combined training exercises and pledged to further strengthen these exercises to develop interoperability.

They noted that the South Korea and US armies have gradually expanded the scope and scale of combined exercises, such as scientific training, to strengthen interoperability.

Secretary Wormuth said that the exchanges and cooperation between South Korea’s Army and the US Army will continue to expand because it is essential to develop the ROK-US alliance as a global comprehensive alliance.

In the morning on the same day, Secretary Wormuth met with ROK Army Chief of Staff Park An-su and discussed ways to deepen exchanges and cooperation to prepare for the armies of both countries.

In particular, both officials agreed to make joint efforts to work together in military logistics and to exchange advanced science and technology.