Page 373 - 2018 Defense White Paper

Appendix 14
th
Joint Communiqué of the 50

U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting

Washington, D.C., October 31, 2018

1. The 50 United States (U.S.)-Republic of Korea (ROK) Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) was held in
th
Washington, D.C., on October 31, 2018. U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and ROK Minister of
National Defense Jeong Kyeongdoo led their respective delegations, which included senior defense and
foreign affairs officials. On October 25, 2018, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph
rd
F. Dunford Jr. and ROK Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Park Hanki presided over the 43
U.S.-ROK Military Committee Meeting (MCM).

2. The Secretary and the Minister noted that the SCM has played a pivotal role in the development of
the U.S.-ROK Alliance since the first meeting on May 28, 1968. Both sides praised the SCM’s effective
handling of Alliance policy coordination over the past half-century in full expectation that it will continue

as the cornerstone venue to affirm national commitments designed to develop the Alliance and enhance
security and prosperity in the region. To this end, both sides will hold discussions on a joint vision to
further develop Alliance defense cooperation in a mutually reinforcing and future-oriented manner in
consideration of potential changes in the security environment.

3. The Secretary and the Minister reviewed the current security environment in and around the Korean
Peninsula and the region and discussed cooperative measures between the two nations. The Secretary
and the Minister decided to strengthen coordination and cooperation towards the common objective
of complete denuclearization in a final, fully verified manner and establishment of permanent peace on
the Korean Peninsula. They acknowledged the constructive commitments made during the three inter-
Korean summits and the U.S.- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Summit in Singapore.
They noted the steps taken by the DPRK, such as announcing a suspension of further nuclear tests and
missile launches and steps to dismantle the Tongchang-ri missile engine test site and the Punggye-
ri nuclear testing site. Both the Secretary and the Minister reaffirmed that the DPRK should fulfill its
commitments in the Panmunjom Declaration on Peace Prosperity and Reunification of the Korean

Appendix 371