Page 80 - 2020 Defence White Paper

4. The Minister and the Secretary assessed that the various actions undertaken by the ROK and the
DPRK defense authorities to implement the Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint
Declaration set conditions for the easing of military tensions and reducing the threat of war on the Korean
Peninsula. Minister Jeong noted that all mutual hostilities in the ground, sea, and air have ceased in the
border areas and that key projects such as the demilitarization of the Joint Security Area (JSA) and the
mutual pilot withdrawal of Guard Posts within the Demilitarize Zone (DMZ) have been successfully
completed through the implementation of the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA). Both sides
assessed that the aforementioned efforts supported the stable management of the border areas with no
instance of military tension in the border areas over the past year. The Minister and the Secretary
pledged to continue to maintain close coordination and cooperation to implement the CMA and
emphasized the importance for the DPRK to resume discussions through means including, but not
limited to, holding the Inter-Korean Joint Military Committee to implement the CMA fully.

5. The Minister and the Secretary assessed that the United Nations Command (UNC)’s administering
of the Armistice Agreement has contributed to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and enabled
the implementation of inter-Korean confidence building measures contained in the CMA. The Minister
also stated that the ROK fully supports and respects the Armistice Agreement and the authorities and
responsibilities of UNC. In addition, noting that the Northern Limit Line (NLL) has been an effective means
of separating ROK and DPRK military forces and preventing military tension to date, the Minister
expressed his expectation that the buffer zone, which was agreed through the CMA, would contribute to
preventing unplanned encounters and contribute to the establishment of a permanent peace on the
Korean Peninsula. The Secretary shared his understanding that the military confidence-building
measures are important for establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, and noted the important role
performed by UNC in implementing the Armistice Agreement and enabling the smooth implementation of
confidence-building measures.

6. The Minister and the Secretary assessed that the US–ROK Alliance is strong and reaffirmed the two
nations’ mutual commitment to the defense of the ROK and the enhancement of mutual security of both
nations based on the US–ROK Mutual Defense Treaty and a robust combined defense posture. The
Secretary reaffirmed the continued US commitment to provide extended deterrence to the ROK using
the full range of military capabilities, including US nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities.
The Minister and the Secretary also assessed that the results of the Joint Study on Extended Deterrence
brought to light measures to enhance cooperation designed to strengthen extended nuclear deterrence.
Both sides pledged to continue to explore jointly measures to enhance the Alliance deterrence posture
and implement the Tailored Deterrence Strategy while considering the effects of changes in the security
environment on the Peninsula and in the region.

2020 Defense White Paper