Yoon Meets with U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair... Exchanges Views on Strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance

"Expecting Cooperation in Advanced Fields Such as Defense, Semiconductors, and Quantum"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is meeting with Jack Reed, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Jack Reed, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, who is visiting Korea on the afternoon of the 26th, and exchanged views on ways to develop the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the presidential office announced. Chairman Reed is a Democrat and a five-term senator from Rhode Island.

President Yoon emphasized, "While North Korea continues provocations refusing dialogue, South Korea and the U.S. must demonstrate strong deterrence against North Korea based on an ironclad combined defense posture, continuing joint efforts for North Korea's complete denuclearization."

He also stated, "To confront international challenges including the North Korean issue, it is important to continuously develop South Korea-U.S. cooperation and the South Korea-U.S.-Japan Camp David cooperation framework."

President Yoon said, "Last month, the South Korea-U.S. leaders approved the 'South Korea-U.S. Combined Nuclear Deterrence Operational Guidelines,' completing the foundation for integrated extended deterrence between South Korea and the U.S.," and requested the continued support of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee for strengthening extended deterrence.

Chairman Reed said, "Having served on the Senate Armed Services Committee for a long time, I understand better than anyone the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," adding, "Bipartisan support from the U.S. Congress for the South Korea-U.S. alliance will remain unchanged, and as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, I will continue to play a necessary role in developing the alliance." He expressed hope that defense industry cooperation, including the construction and maintenance of naval vessels, and cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. in advanced fields such as semiconductors and quantum technology will deepen.

Furthermore, he added, "Without President Yoon's courage and leadership, the South Korea-U.S.-Japan Camp David cooperation framework could not have been established," and said, "The international community will long remember President Yoon's achievements in improving South Korea-Japan relations to lay the foundation for South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation and expanding the horizon of cooperation to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the Philippines."