Members of US Congress promise bipartisan support to maintain combined defense posture

Minister Shin Won Sik met with a US Congressional delegation

Discussed ways to develop the ROK-US Alliance and outstanding regional security issues

Defense Minister Shin Won Sik meets with US senators and representatives and discusses major security issues at the Defense Ministry in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on March 29.

Minister Shin met with the US delegation comprising six senators and one representative, including Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, and discussed ways to develop the ROK-US Alliance and major outstanding regional security issues at the Defense Ministry in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on March 29.

Minister Shin expressed appreciation for the active support of the US Congress for the development of the ROK-US Alliance and combined defense readiness. He also emphasized that although North Korea is escalating threats, South Korea and the United States are maintaining a robust combined defense posture against the North's provocations.

He said, "South Korea and the United States are closely cooperating to complete the ROK-US integrated extended deterrence by the first half of this year through the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG)." He further requested the support of the US Congress to strengthen the implementation of extended deterrence.

The members of the US Congress promised bipartisan support to further develop the ROK-US Alliance, which has evolved as the most exemplary alliance in the world over the past seven decades.

In particular, both sides concurred that the 28,500 US troops stationed in Korea are playing a critical role in defending peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region and that continued support by the US Congress is necessary to maintain a solid combined defense posture. They expressed concern over the deepening instability in international security and reaffirmed the importance of the ROK-US Alliance to ensure regional and global peace and stability.

Both sides noted the growing strategic value of the Korean Peninsula and concurred that the ROK-US Alliance must be further strengthened. They also agreed that to maintain regional peace and stability, it is necessary to expand solidarity with like-minded partners including members of the United Nations Command, and pledged to strengthen cooperation with countries in the region, led by the ROK-US Alliance.

Minister Shin added, "After the historic Camp David Summit, ROK-US-Japan security cooperation has steadily developed, and the trilateral security cooperation should be strengthened to deter and respond to the North's nuclear and missile threats."

The US Congress delegation shared the understanding that ROK-US-Japan security cooperation is critical to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region and pledged to provide congressional support to bolster trilateral security cooperation.

Both sides established a consensus that to reinforce the ROK-US Alliance, the interest and support of the US Congress as well as the government are important, and bilateral cooperation will continue in the process of the alliance evolving into a comprehensive global strategic alliance.

By Ah-Mi, Cho <[email protected]>

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