Ahead of ROK-US Joint Exercises, US Strategic Commander Visits Korea

Seo Wook Meets with Strategic Commander in Charge of Nuclear Forces... Discusses Extended Deterrence

U.S. Strategic Command Commander Charles Richard (Navy Admiral, right in the photo)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]On the 14th, Seo Wook, Minister of National Defense, met with Admiral Charles Richard, Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees the U.S. nuclear triad.

On the same day, Seo met with Commander Richard, who is visiting Seoul, at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul, and exchanged views on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, as well as the alliance's deterrence posture, the Ministry of National Defense said.

Minister Seo emphasized the importance of maintaining close cooperation between the South Korean and U.S. defense authorities to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and requested the U.S. Strategic Command's active role in strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance's deterrence posture.

Commander Richard highlighted the U.S. Strategic Command's readiness in relation to the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to South Korea, reaffirmed by President Joe Biden at the ROK-U.S. summit in May.

The U.S. nuclear triad overseen by the U.S. Strategic Command consists of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs), and long-range bombers (B-52H and B-2A).

Commander Richard previously met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Won In-chul to discuss ways to strengthen the ROK-U.S. combined defense posture and alliance. During his visit, he is also scheduled to meet with the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to discuss ways to enhance cooperation for the alliance's deterrence posture on the Korean Peninsula.

Commander Richard, who embarked on his first overseas trip since taking office in November 2019, visited Japan on the 12th and held talks with Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo and Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Yamazaki Koji.