South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense announced that Acting Minister of National Defense Kim Sun Ho held his first official call on Friday morning with newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, reaffirming the strength of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
According to the ministry, both sides praised the achievements of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, which has been a cornerstone of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region for over 70 years. They also agreed on the importance of further deepening and expanding bilateral cooperation.
Acting Minister Kim expressed his expectations that Hegseth would fulfill his critical responsibilities as U.S. Secretary of Defense amid the challenging international security environment.
Hegseth reaffirmed the United States’ steadfast commitment to South Korea’s defense and pledged to collaborate closely with the South Korean government to strengthen the alliance, built on deep trust and longstanding friendship.
Both ministers agreed that maintaining a strong combined defense posture is more crucial than ever to effectively deter and respond to North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats. They also highlighted the importance of managing alliance issues to ensure stability and continuity in bilateral relations.
The two ministers expressed serious concerns over the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, recognizing it as a significant threat to global security and the Korean Peninsula. They pledged to work with the international community to address this challenge.
Furthermore, they agreed to continue strengthening security cooperation between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. The U.S.-South Korean alliance will serve as the foundation for deterring North Korean threats in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.
Both sides acknowledged that close coordination between the U.S. and South Korea is essential for evolving the alliance into a comprehensive global strategic partnership. They agreed to maintain regular communication on key alliance issues moving forward.