First Phone Call Between South Korean and U.S. Defense Ministers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The defense ministers of South Korea and the United States discussed plans for close cooperation between the two countries' defense authorities going forward.

On the 18th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that Minister of National Defense Seo Wook and Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller spoke by phone and reaffirmed the enduring strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. This call was the first contact between Minister Seo and Acting Secretary Miller, who was appointed as the successor to Mark Esper, the former U.S. Secretary of Defense dismissed on the 9th.

The call was made at the request of the newly appointed Acting Secretary Miller and reaffirmed the results of the 52nd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held last month, as well as the commitment of both countries' defense ministries to maintaining a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance and combined defense posture. During the call, Minister Seo expressed his expectation that Acting Secretary Miller, based on his diverse experience and expertise in the defense field, would excellently carry out the important duties of the U.S. Secretary of Defense and contribute to the development of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. In response, Acting Secretary Miller evaluated the South Korea-U.S. alliance as a model alliance that has been maintained for the longest period in U.S. history and emphasized that they will closely cooperate to further develop the alliance relationship in the future.