On the 30th (local time), the US and South Korea will hold a Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Washington, where they are expected to deeply discuss the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia. Officials will exchange views on integrated extended deterrence, US-ROK-Japan security cooperation, among other topics.
On the 13th, South Korean Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun held his first phone call with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III since taking office, reaffirming the strength of the US-ROK alliance while assessing regional security conditions. The Ministry of Defense announced on the 25th that the 56th US-ROK Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) will take place on October 30th (local time) in Washington, D.C.
During this SCM, the two sides will discuss a wide range of defense aspects of the US-ROK alliance. They aim to solidify the practical implementation foundation for the ‘US-ROK Defense Vision’ agreed upon last year and further strengthen their development into a ‘global comprehensive strategic alliance.’
A Ministry of Defense official emphasized that “this meeting marks Minister Kim’s first overseas trip and his first face-to-face meeting with the US defense secretary since taking office.” The meeting’s agenda is expected to include an evaluation of the recent security situation on the Korean Peninsula and collaboration on North Korea policy, including North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia. Additionally, discussions will cover ▲ ‘Integrated Extended Deterrence’ and strengthening combined defense posture ▲ defense science and technology cooperation and defense industry collaboration ▲ US-ROK-Japan security cooperation ▲ security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the SCM, Minister Kim also plans to visit the Korean War Memorial and research institutions on unmanned and manned hybrid systems. Another Ministry of Defense official noted that “the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and other tensions present a severe global security situation,” highlighting the significance of the US and South Korean defense ministers meeting to discuss cooperation measures at such a critical time. Furthermore, discussions on how South Korea and the US will pursue security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, as announced in last year’s US-ROK Defense Vision, will also be a focal point.