The defense authorities of the United States and South Korea held the 29th meeting of the Integrated Defense Consultative Body (KIDD) in Busan, agreeing to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the transfer of wartime operational control.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced on September 19 that the 29th KIDD meeting took place in Busan from September 16 to 18, marking the first time the meeting was held in this city.
Kim Hong-chul, Director of Defense Policy at the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, and George LeMeur, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, served as the chief representatives for their respective sides. Key officials from both countries' defense and diplomatic sectors also participated.
The two sides evaluated the progress and outcomes of implementing the defense-related aspects of the joint fact sheet agreed upon by the leaders of both nations last year, as well as the joint statement from the 57th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM).
They also reviewed the modernization achievements of the alliance in response to the changing security environment. The two sides assessed their efforts toward a conditions-based transfer of operational control and agreed to enhance cooperation to expedite this transition.
To further strengthen cooperation in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) in the shipbuilding and aviation sectors, both sides visited key defense industry sites. The Ministry of National Defense stated that this visit helped enhance mutual understanding of major defense issues.
Both sides plan to continue close and ongoing consultations on security issues concerning the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.