The defense ministers of South Korea and the United States met on the 4th and reaffirmed both countries’ intent regarding the approval of South Kor...
Minister of National Defense Ahn Kyu-baek and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attend the joint press conference for the 57th ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting held at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 4th.
Joint Press Corps. Provided by the Ministry of National Defense The defense ministers of South Korea and the United States met on the 4th and reaffirmed both countries' intent regarding the approval of South Korea's construction of a nuclear-powered submarine. They also showed agreement on modernizing the ROK-U.S. alliance by raising South Korea's defense spending and strengthening defense industry cooperation. The joint statement containing the issues agreed by the two ministers is scheduled to be released after a"fact sheet" on the results of the ROK-U.S. tariff and security negotiations is announced. Minister of National Defense Ahn Kyu-baek and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated this at a press briefing held after the 57th ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the same day. The SCM is the highest-level body in the two countries' defense sector that consults and coordinates major military policy. This SCM was the first to be held since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration and the second Donald Trump administration. The two ministers discussed matters related to South Korea's construction of a nuclear-powered submarine at this SCM. In response to a related question, Secretary Hegseth said,"I once again confirm what U.S. President Donald Trump approved," adding,"The military authorities will do their utmost to provide active support." President Trump said on the 30th of last month, the day after his meeting with President Lee Jae-myung, that he had"approved South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine." On this, Secretary Hegseth said that the President"is convinced that a nuclear-powered submarine will help not only South Korea's self-defense capabilities but also our ROK-U.S. alliance." They also left open the possibility of follow-up consultations related to the nuclear-powered submarine. Secretary Hegseth said,"We will continue to work closely with other relevant agencies such as the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Energy." This is interpreted as suggesting the possibility of approval by the Department of Energy, which is responsible for nuclear policy including nuclear materials, and of preparing a separate agreement with South Korea through the State Department. He said,"South Korea has world-class capabilities in shipbuilding," adding,"The U.S. government wants to expand cooperation in a range of areas, not only submarines but also surface combatants." However, it was reported that matters related to the nuclear-powered submarine will not be reflected in the SCM joint statement. The two ministers aligned on plans to modernize the ROK-U.S. alliance by increasing South Korea's defense spending and strengthening defense industry cooperation. Secretary Hegseth said,"I am greatly encouraged by the South Korean government's commitment to increase defense outlays and to bolster military investments in key capabilities such as missiles, cyber, and other essential capabilities." Specifically, defense spending is expected to be agreed to rise to 3.5% of South Korea's gross domestic product by 2035. In that case, the Ministry of National Defense would increase the defense budget by 7.7% each year, reaching the U.S.-requested level of 3.5% of GDP before 2035. Assuming a nominal GDP growth rate of 3.4% from next year onward and annual increases of 7.7% in the defense budget, by 2035ten years from nowdefense spending would rise to 128.4 trillion won, and its share of GDP would also expand to 3.5%. While reaffirming the ROK-U.S. joint response to North Korea, Secretary Hegseth said South Korea's role will expand. He said,"We are in a situation where it is necessary to enhance flexibility to respond to any other contingencies in the region," adding,"South Korea will take a leading role in conventional defense against North Korea." This is interpreted to mean that the United States needs to expand the strategic flexibility of U.S. Forces Korea to respond to other threats such as China, and that, to that end, South Korea will lead responses to North Korea's conventional threats. In this context, this SCM is said to have included progress on the transfer of wartime operational control. However, Secretary Hegseth maintained the policy of responding to the North Korean nuclear threat, saying,"We will provide extended deterrence to South Korea without change." The SCM joint statement was not released on the day. Minister Ahn said,"As the fact sheet is in progress, we will announce it later." Secretary Hegseth said,"Once the fact sheet is finalized promptly, a joint statement will be issued based on it." In the afternoon, Secretary Hegseth paid a courtesy call on President Lee Jae-myung at the presidential office in Yongsan. President Lee said,"An early restoration of wartime operational control during my term will be an important opportunity for the ROK-U.S. alliance to deepen and advance to the next level," and added,"If our military's capabilities are greatly strengthened and South Korea takes the lead in the defense of the Korean Peninsula, the United States' defense burden in the Indo-Pacific region will also be reduced." He also said,"Acquiring nuclear-powered submarines will significantly enhance our military's capabilities to lead the defense of the Korean Peninsula and greatly contribute to the development of the ROK-U.S. alliance." Secretary Hegseth responded,"We are proud of South Korea's efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities by increasing defense spending and acquiring cutting-edge conventional forces and nuclear-powered submarines, and we will actively support them."
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