Defense chiefs of S. Korea, U.S. hold talks amid OPCON transfer push

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[00:00:00]South Korea and the United States are stepping up coordination on major alliance and security issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control and growing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek met US Defense Secretary Pete Hoekstra in Washington on Monday, where the two sides also discussed alliance modernization and regional security cooperation. Our Eason Tae has more.

[00:00:25]South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek met US Defense Secretary Pete Hoekstra in Washington on Monday as the allies coordinated on major security issues, including wartime operational control transfer, alliance modernization, and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon meeting marked the first defense ministers talks between the two countries in more than 6 months. During opening remarks, Hoekstra stressed the importance of allied unity and burden-sharing, referencing the recent US military operation against Iran.

[00:00:59]The strength of our alliance is critical, and we look to our partners to stand shoulder to shoulder with us.

[00:01:07]He also praised the South Korea's pledge to increase defense spending and take on a larger role in defending the Korean Peninsula. Ahn voiced support for the Trump administration's peace-through-strength policy and said Seoul is also boosting defense spending and military capabilities to strengthen South Korea-led defense on the peninsula.

[00:01:27]In line with this, we are also making every effort to secure core national defense capabilities through measures such as increasing defense spending so that we can realize a defense of the Korean Peninsula led by us.

[00:01:40]In a joint statement, both sides said that they discussed security on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to strengthen cooperation on key alliance issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control and alliance modernization. However, differences remain over the timeline for the transfer of wartime operational control.

[00:01:59]US Forces Korea Commander General Xavier Brunson recently suggested early 2029 as a possible target date, while the E Jae-myung administration is reportedly aiming for completion before the end of its term in 2028.

[00:02:13]Other sensitive issues believed to have been discussed include cooperation on nuclear powered submarines, North Korea related intelligence sharing, and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz following the attack on the South Korean cargo ship HMM Nambu. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.