Seoul to Host 25th Korea-U.S. Defense Consultative Meeting
Seoul, September 20, 2024 – The25th Korea-U.S. Defense Consultative Meeting (KIDD) will be held in Seoul on September 23rd and 24th, according to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense. This meeting serves as a prelude to the 56th Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), scheduled for later this year.
The KIDD will be led by Cho Chang-rae, Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau at the Ministry of National Defense, and Anka Lee, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary ofDefense for East Asia. The two sides will engage in comprehensive discussions on key alliance security issues, including:
- North Korea’s complete denuclearization: The meeting will focus on strategies to achieve North Korea’s complete denuclearizationand address the growing threat posed by its nuclear and missile programs.
- Deterrence and response to nuclear and missile threats: The two countries will discuss collaborative efforts to deter and respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
- Strengthening joint defense posture: The meeting will explore ways to enhancethe joint defense posture of the Korean Peninsula, including the deployment of U.S. military assets and the development of joint military exercises.
- Conditional transfer of wartime operational control: The two sides will continue discussions on the potential transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S. to South Korea, a complex and sensitive issuethat has been under consideration for years.
In addition to these key issues, the KIDD will review the implementation of major defense-related initiatives undertaken this year and discuss future measures.
According to reports, the upcoming SCM is expected to focus on several critical areas, including:
- Strengthening extended deterrenceagainst North Korea: The two countries will explore ways to enhance the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence, which guarantees the protection of South Korea from North Korean aggression.
- Modernizing the alliance through advanced technology: The meeting will discuss ways to modernize the alliance by leveraging advancements in science and technology, including the development of jointdefense systems and the sharing of intelligence.
- Strengthening regional security cooperation: The two countries will discuss ways to enhance cooperation with other countries in the region to address shared security concerns.
The KIDD and the SCM are crucial platforms for the two allies to strengthen their defense cooperation and address the growing security challenges in theregion. The upcoming meetings come at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as North Korea continues to develop its nuclear and missile programs.
The outcome of these meetings will have significant implications for the future of the Korea-U.S. alliance and the security of the Korean Peninsula.
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