Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[The Korea-U.S. foreign, defense ministerial talks] Broadly discussed extended deterrence and sanctions against North Korea

48th SCM on October 20 as well
 
 
The 4th Korea-U.S. foreign and defense ministerial talks will be held in Washington on October 19, and Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo and Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will sit down with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

The 48th Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), co-conducted by the Korean and US defense ministers, is to be held as well on the 20th, the next day of the talks.

The ministers will discuss the topics of ▲the Korea-U.S. alliance, ▲the North Korea problem, ▲regional issues, and ▲global partnership, and issue a joint statement during the 2+2 ministerial talks.

t is expected that the ministers will have a broad discussion on diplomatic pressure including sanctions against North Korea, extended deterrence, and military deterrence plans in these extreme circumstances in which North Korea has raised its nuclear and missile threat level, particularly in the wake of the 5th nuclear test. In addition, the two countries will discuss the main regional and global pending issues as well as the comprehensive strategic alliance.

A foreign security official commented, “These ministerial talks present an opportunity to reaffirm the firm Korea-US alliance and ensure powerful cooperation against North Korea, and to present a direction for further cooperation direction in the diplomatic and security areas.”

And for the SCM held following the meeting, the main pending issues and development topics for the future alliance, including ▲North Korean threats evaluation and cooperation on policy towards North Korea, ▲countermeasures for North Korean nuclear and missile threats and extended deterrence, ▲Korea-US combined defense posture enhancement including THAAD deployment in the U.S. Forces in Korea, ▲switchover of wartime operational control based on conditions, ▲aerospace and cyber cooperation, ▲regional and global security cooperation, etc, will be discussed in-depth.

By Byeong-No, Yun < trylover@dema.mil.kr >
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