Seo Hoon, National Security Office Chief, Meets with Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Seo Hoon, Director of the National Security Office, held a meeting with Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense, who arrived in Korea on the afternoon of the 1st, to discuss the Korea-U.S. alliance, the Korean Peninsula issues, and regional situations.

Following the Korea-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting in March, Seo expressed hope that substantial consultations on alliance matters would take place at the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) scheduled for the 2nd, and that it would serve as an opportunity to further develop the best Korea-U.S. alliance established at the Korea-U.S. summit in May.

Meanwhile, Seo will attend the "Night of the Korea-U.S. Alliance" event, joined by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Minister of National Defense Seo Wook, Chairman of the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation Jung Seung-jo, Secretary of Defense Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Milley, and Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command Aquilino, where he will deliver President Moon Jae-in's congratulatory message.