United States (US) national security advisor Robert O’Brien met with his South Korean (ROK) counterpart Suh Hoon in Washington DC on Thursday for talks relating to issues of mutual concern, including North Korea and bilateral ties between the two allies. Mr. Suh is scheduled to be in the US capital for four days and is expected to hold meetings with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as some other government and think tank officials.
The talks come after the South Korean ambassador to the US Lee Soo-hyuck made controversial remarks regarding the US-ROK alliance. While addressing the South Korean parliament earlier this week, Mr. Lee said that South Korea’s choice of the US as an ally is not permanent, especially amid the latter’s intensifying rivalry with China. The top diplomat’s statement prompted an immediate response from the US, who reaffirmed its support for the 70-year-old alliance between the two nations, given everything it had done for the “sake of peace and prosperity for the US and ROK, and the region as a whole”. Following Thursday’s meeting, the South Korean presidential Blue House reiterated its support for the bilateral partnership, along with Mr. O’Brien saying that the “ironclad alliance is stronger than ever, and continues to grow to meet all regional and global challenges”.
Prior to Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Suh’s Thursday meeting, US Defense Secretary Dr. Mark Esper welcomed South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook on Wednesday for a Security Consultative Meeting at the Pentagon. The leaders discussed their commitments to ensure peace and security on the Korean peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific region, as well as avenues to increase cooperation in space and cyberspace as new threats emerge. They also discussed North Korea—who unveiled an array of new weaponry last weekend during a military parade, including a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)—and both sides affirmed their shared objectives of a “fully verified denuclearization of North Korea”. Progress on this front has been stalled since last year, and Pyongyang in recent months has made clear its intentions to retain its nuclear arsenal.
The two defense chiefs also discussed the handover of wartime operational control (OPCON) from US troops to South Korea, which has been an important part of President Moon Jae-in’s plan to regain military sovereignty by 2022. The allies said that they will work together to fully meet the conditions for such a transition, but did not provide any details regarding the time frame, leading to many speculating that the countries were not on the same page.
US, South Korea Meet to Discuss Security and Defense Alliance
Mr. Suh is scheduled to be in the US capital for four days and is expected to hold meetings with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as some other government and think tank officials.
October 16, 2020
US national security advisor Robert O’Brien (L) and South Korea’s director of national security Suh Hoon. SOURCE: YONHAP NEWS AGENCY