South Korea's Minister of Defense Kang Shin-cheol reaffirmed the strength of the US-South Korea alliance during his first multilateral diplomatic engagement since taking office. He emphasized that recent claims questioning the alliance were dismissed by US officials as 'fake news,' indicating no disagreements between the two nations. Kang also highlighted the need for international attention on North Korea's landmine provocations and called for dialogue.
Kang returned to the Ministry of Defense on October 30 after attending the 13th Expanded ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-Plus) in the Philippines. This was his first participation in a multilateral security meeting, which included defense leaders from ASEAN member states, the United States, Japan, and other key regional countries.
Speaking to reporters on his way to work, Kang responded to a question about whether there were any disagreements during the US-South Korea defense ministerial meeting, stating, 'There were no disagreements.' He added, 'In fact, Secretary Hegseth remarked on the many discussions surrounding the alliance, calling them fake news,' and expressed his agreement with that sentiment.
Kang stressed, 'Such claims cannot shake the solidity of the US-South Korea alliance, nor should they.' Earlier, on October 28, Kang held a 40-minute face-to-face meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, where both sides reaffirmed the importance of the alliance and exchanged views on key security issues, including the transition of wartime operational control.
During the meeting, reports regarding the alleged instability of the US-South Korea alliance were also discussed. Hegseth reportedly responded by saying he does not believe those reports and labeled them as 'fake news.' Kang echoed this sentiment, reiterating that there are no issues with the alliance's cohesion.
Despite Kang's assurances of no disagreements, specific timelines and procedures for the transition of wartime operational control remain unconfirmed. The 58th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), originally expected to take place in December, has been postponed to early next year. Instead, the two nations will hold a separate defense ministerial meeting in Washington in December. This marks the first time since 1998 that the SCM will extend into the following year.
The verification of the Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the future Combined Forces Command, a key step in the transition process, and the specific target year for the transition were not clearly outlined during the meeting. When asked after returning to South Korea whether an agreement was reached on completing FOC verification for setting a target year for the transition, Kang did not provide a direct answer. Instead, he noted, 'The most significant outcome is that we agreed to align our intentions regarding the transition of operational control.'
While the reaffirmation of the alliance's strength and the commitment to cooperate on the transition of operational control are significant, the specific conditions and timeline for the transition remain unresolved and will require further discussions between the US and South Korea.
Additionally, during the meeting, Kang held bilateral talks with defense ministers from eight countries, including the United States, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, to discuss expanding defense exchanges and cooperation.
Kang focused on strengthening security cooperation with major countries while broadening defense cooperation with Southeast Asian nations. He emphasized the need for practical collaboration in various areas, including regional maritime security and peacekeeping operations, to jointly respond to the rapidly changing security environment.
Addressing North Korea's landmine provocations was also a key agenda item during this diplomatic engagement. In his bilateral meetings, Kang explained the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and urged the international community to pay attention to North Korea's military provocations. During the main session on October 29, he specifically referenced an incident on September 21, where a landmine planted by North Korea exploded south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), injuring South Korean soldiers, and pointed out North Korea's responsibility.
Kang stated, 'This is a clear violation of the armistice agreement and an act of provocation,' adding, 'What is even more concerning is that there is no communication channel established to inquire and confirm such situations.' He further stated, 'Dialogue is the minimum safety measure to prevent crises and a starting point for restoring trust,' urging North Korea to respond positively to inter-Korean military talks.
Notably, on the same day as the main session, North Korea launched over ten short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the Wonsan area. Kang immediately highlighted this, emphasizing the military threat posed by North Korea. He criticized, 'Even at this very moment, North Korea is launching multiple missiles, threatening security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.'
Following the South Korean government's letter to the United Nations Security Council addressing North Korea's landmine planting, Kang's mention of this issue at the multilateral security meeting represents a continued diplomatic response to North Korea's provocations.
Kang's first multilateral diplomatic engagement has been significant in reaffirming the strength of the US-South Korea alliance and expanding the foundation for defense and military cooperation with major countries. However, the specific progress regarding the transition of operational control will likely be confirmed through future US-South Korea consultations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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