Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

The two ministers agreed to “strengthen their firm cooperation and cooperate closely on the 52nd Republic of Korea-United States Security Consultative Meeting (SCM)”

Minister of National Defense Suh Wook and his United States (US) counterpart Defense Secretary Mark Esper reaffirmed their commitment to the maintenance of a combined defense posture, as well as a firm alliance between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the US.

An official from the ministry made the announcement, saying that the two ministers had closely discussed the need to strengthen the firm ROK-US alliance and the 52nd ROK-US Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) through phone talks on the morning of October 8.

Esper congratulated Suh on his inauguration and mentioned his eagerness to have a face-to-face discussion at the coming SCM. Expressing gratitude for Esper’s favorable reception, Suh promised to maintain close cooperation to ensure the successful hosting of the SCM.

A ministry spokesperson said that the SCM will take place in Washington D.C. on October 14, with the top officials in the defense and diplomacy areas of the two countries in attendance.

It is anticipated that the SCM will be used to discuss key alliance issues, including △ the evaluation of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and cooperation on policies, △ the promotion of condition-based transfer of wartime operational control, and △ the strengthening of a combined defense posture.

During the phone talks, the two ministers also reaffirmed the importance of close bilateral cooperation on defense issues, as well as strengthening the ironclad ROK-US alliance. They also agreed to continue to cooperate with each other, in order to intensify and develop the ROK-US alliance in a forward-looking, complementary way.

By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr >

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