President Moon Meets with US Defense Secretary Austin... Discusses North Korea Denuclearization Measures (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 2nd, President Moon Jae-in met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Blue House main building.

Attending the meeting were Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea Christopher Del Corso, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command John Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea Paul LaCamera, Minister of National Defense Seo Wook, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Won In-chul, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Seo Joo-seok, spokesperson Park Kyung-mi, and Defense Reform Secretary Kang Shin-cheol.

President Moon greeted the U.S. attendees with elbow bumps and took a commemorative photo with Secretary Austin. Following this, at President Moon's suggestion, both the U.S. and Korean attendees stood together for a group commemorative photo.

Secretary Austin, who arrived in Korea the previous day for a 3-day, 2-night visit to attend the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), reportedly discussed with President Moon ways to advance the Korean Peninsula peace process, including North Korea's denuclearization.

Meanwhile, Secretary Austin held a joint press conference with Minister Seo after the SCM in the morning, announcing that they agreed to update operational plans for the first time in 11 years in response to North Korea's nuclear advancements.