US Secretary of Defense "Dramatic Enhancement of Extended Deterrence Execution Capability, Effectiveness, and Reliability"
President Yoon Suk-yeol met with the U.S. delegation of the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) on the 12th and urged, "Even if North Korea miscalculates and carries out any provocations, including a Hamas-style surprise attack, please maintain the ROK-U.S. combined readiness posture to respond decisively and immediately."
On the afternoon of the same day at the Hannam-dong residence in Seoul, President Yoon made these remarks to the SCM U.S. delegation, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown, pointing out that North Korea is directly or indirectly linked to the Ukraine war and the conflict involving Hamas, the armed faction of Israel-Palestine, according to a written briefing by presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon.
The SCM is the highest-level bilateral security consultative body involving the defense ministers and senior defense and foreign affairs officials of South Korea and the United States, and the 55th SCM is scheduled to be held at the Ministry of National Defense on the 13th.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands and taking a commemorative photo with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on the 12th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon encouraged the delegation and exchanged views on the international security situation and major issues related to security on the Korean Peninsula. He stated, "This SCM, marking the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance, will serve as an opportunity to further solidify the status of the alliance and reaffirm the United States' steadfast security commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia."
President Yoon also highly evaluated the close cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. since the launch of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in July to deter and respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, including information sharing, establishment of consultative systems, strengthening joint planning and execution capabilities, and the swift advancement of related follow-up measures such as the expanded deployment of strategic assets, according to the spokesperson.
Secretary Austin conveyed special regards from U.S. President Joe Biden and said, "It is President Biden's firm intention to further strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance, which is stronger than ever."
The U.S. side reaffirmed its firm commitment to defend the Republic of Korea using all military capabilities. Secretary Austin emphasized, "The ROK-U.S. NCG consultations are a major focus of President Biden, and through this, we will dramatically enhance the effectiveness and credibility of extended deterrence."
In particular, he requested, "I hope that scientific and technological cooperation, including in space and cyber domains, will be actively carried out among the younger generations of both countries." In response, President Yoon replied, "I hope such discussions will continue between the ROK-U.S. and ROK-U.S.-Japan."
At the dinner that day, the U.S. side was represented by Secretary Austin, Philip Goldberg, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Brown, Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command John Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea Paul LaCamera, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner. On the South Korean side were Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik, National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Seung-gyeom, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo, Second Deputy Director In Sung-hwan, and Defense Secretary Choi Byung-ok.
President Yoon Suk-yeol hosted a dinner of encouragement on the 12th at the Seoul Hannam-dong residence, inviting the U.S. delegation of the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), including U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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