US Department of Defense: "Secretary Austin to Visit Han Within Weeks"...Likely at the End of This Month

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is expected to visit Korea around the end of this month, after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense
[Photo by Reuters]

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, on the 17th (local time), Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder stated at a regular briefing, "As some media reports have indicated, Secretary of Defense Austin will visit Korea and the Philippines within weeks to meet with senior government officials and military leaders." He explained, "This trip reaffirms our commitment to cooperate with allies and partner countries for a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region."

Currently, the South Korean and U.S. Departments of Defense are reportedly coordinating Secretary Austin's visit schedule for after the Lunar New Year holiday. During his visit, Austin is expected to hold talks with Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop and also pay a courtesy call on President Yoon Seok-yeol. It is anticipated that discussions on strengthening trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan will take place at this meeting.

Additionally, this visit is known to have the purpose of assessing preparations for the upcoming Korea-U.S. Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Tabletop Exercise (DSC TTX) scheduled for next month. Unlike previous exercises that assumed general crisis scenarios on the Korean Peninsula, next month's DSC TTX will, for the first time, develop response measures based on a scenario involving North Korea's preemptive use of nuclear weapons.

Regarding this, spokesperson Ryder refrained from making specific comments about the training content. He confirmed, "We have already discussed providing extended deterrence to regional allies such as South Korea and Japan," adding, "We will continue to focus on the exercises while ensuring interoperability when working together."

Furthermore, when asked whether the recent release by the United Nations Command of photos showing B-29 bombers bombing Pyongyang during the Korean War was an indirect demonstration of the U.S.'s extended deterrence commitment, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "Please inquire with the United Nations Command."