On Monday, Elbridge Colby, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy, commended South Korea as an exemplary ally, stating that South Korea demonstrates its commitment to playing a leading role in the defense of the Korean Peninsula by bolstering its own defense capabilities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that during a breakfast meeting with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Deputy Secretary Colby praised South Korea’s resolve to take a leading role in Peninsula defense. He pledged that the U.S. Department of Defense will actively work to ensure swift implementation of key agreements reached between the leaders.
Minister Cho responded that through two summit meetings last year, the nations achieved significant progress in developing a mutually beneficial and forward-looking alliance. He expressed his hope for continued close coordination between both countries’ foreign and defense authorities to achieve tangible results promptly.
Minister Cho emphasized that cooperation on South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program would enhance the country’s deterrence capabilities, thereby strengthening the alliance. He stressed the importance of both nations developing specific implementation plans through working-level discussions.
Colby, a key architect of the new U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS), began a three-day visit to South Korea on January 25.
His visit follows the recent release of the new defense strategy on January 23, which acknowledges South Korea’s capacity to take a leading role in deterring North Korea, even with limited U.S. support. The strategy underscores the importance of bolstering South Korea’s conventional deterrence capabilities and reinforcing the U.S. stance on countering China.
During his visit, Colby is expected to engage in discussions with top South Korean diplomatic and defense officials, including Minister Cho and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, covering critical issues such as defense budget increases, the transfer of wartime operational control, and nuclear submarine development.