Page 85 - 2020 Defence White Paper

Appendix
14

Future ROK–US Alliance Defense Vision

The ROK–US Alliance has contributed to the deepening political, social, and economic ties between the
United States and the ROK over the past 66 years, while also growing into a mutually beneficial Alliance
based on the common values and robust trust between the two nations. ROK and US authorities are
closely coordinating defense activities to support the establishment of complete denuclearization in a
verifiable manner and a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, while maintaining a steadfast
combined defense posture with the ROK–US Alliance as the linchpin for peace, stability, and prosperity
of the Korean Peninsula and the region.
At the 50th Security Consultative Meeting on October 31, 2018, the ROK Minister of National Defense
and the US Secretary of Defense pledged to engage in discussions on a joint defense vision to advance
Alliance defense cooperation in a mutually reinforcing and future-oriented manner while taking into
consideration dynamic changes in the security environment. These discussions were based on the
understandings of the Presidents of the ROK and United States during the ROK–US summit of June 30,
2019, where both Presidents pledged to pursue harmonious cooperation between the ROK New
Southern Policy and the US Indo-Pacific strategy under the regional cooperation principles of openness,
inclusiveness, and transparency.
The US and ROK defense cooperation flows from a commitment to common principles that underpin
order of the Korean Peninsula, the region, and the global arena. These principles include:
a. Striving towards peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the world;
b. Respect for sovereignty and independence of all nations;
c. Peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with internationally established laws and norms; and
d. Adherence to international rules and norms, including those of free access, navigation, and overflight.
The ROK and United States intend to develop defense cooperation in a future-focused manner, based
on the aforementioned common principles even following the establishment of peace on the Korean
Peninsula. Going forward, both countries pledge to protect shared national security interests on the
Korean Peninsula, in the Northeast Asian region, and the global arena.
Alliance defense cooperation is to be pursued so that the two nations may be able to effectively
respond to new challenges and security threats. To this end, the US and ROK decide to deepen and
expand the degree and scope of defense cooperation to incorporate new nontraditional and
transnational threats such as cyber, space, maritime, and environmental issues. The two countries also
decide to cooperate to build regional partner capacity to respond to transnational and non-traditional
security threats to advance shared values and common principles.
The Alliance decide to deepen cooperation in traditional areas, such as preventing and responding to
potential chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, and preventing the proliferation

Appendix