U.S.-South Korea Collaborate with International Community to Address North Korean-Russian Military Cooperation

Integrated Defense Dialogue between U.S. and South Korea held in the U.S.
Global response to North Korean-Russian military ties
U.S. vows full defense, including nuclear attacks, to defend North Korea

The U.S. and South Korea have agreed to jointly respond to North Korea’s nuclear threat while addressing North Korean-Russian military cooperation through international coordination.

According to the defense departments of both countries, the 24th Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) was held in Washington, D.C., USA, on the 11th (local time).

Key officials in the defense and diplomatic sectors from both countries attended the meeting, including Cho Chang Rae, the Director of the National Defense Policy Office of the Ministry of National Defense, Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs in the U.S., and Andrew Winternitz, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia.

Through this meeting, the two countries reaffirmed the principle of closely cooperating in case North Korea carries out provocations that threaten peace and stability in the region.

The U.S. commits to defend South Korea using all of its military capabilities, including non-nuclear ones, and regularly deploys strategic assets. Furthermore, the U.S. also reiterated that any nuclear attack targeting U.S. allies by North Korea would not be tolerated, and such an attack would lead to the end of Kim Jong Un’s regime.

Both sides concurred that North Korean-Russian military cooperation hinders peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and Europe. They have agreed to respond in close cooperation with the international community.

The U.S. and South Korea also decided to advance the U.S.-South Korea Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDP-A) to allow mutual access to the defense industry market and strengthen supply chains.

Both parties have reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing the United Nations Command (UNC), acknowledging its longstanding contributions to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The U.S. expressed gratitude for South Korea’s efforts to continuously strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the UNC and between UNC member countries through regular meetings. The U.S. agreed to cooperate closely in this regard. Both sides reviewed the progress of the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) and reaffirmed their will to achieve the three conditions agreed upon for the transfer of OPCON.