US-South Korea Alliance
New US defense strategy highlights Seoul's leading role in peninsula security
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The Pentagon's 2026 National Defense Strategy emphasizes South Korea's leading role in Korean Peninsula security, which the defense ministry welcomed. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun discussed with a US official the need to acquire nuclear-powered submarines to enhance deterrence and the alliance. This aligns with President Trump's 'America First' policy, pushing for stronger self-reliant defense in South Korea.
The Pentagon announced on Saturday that Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby will visit South Korea and Japan this weekend, following the release of the new National Defense Strategy (NDS). The trip aims to advance President Donald Trump's 'peace through strength' agenda, discussing burden-sharing and potential adjustments to U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula. In response, President Lee Jae Myung stressed that achieving self-reliant defense is the 'most basic of basics.'
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South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back urged service members on Friday to thoroughly prepare for the transition of wartime operational control from the United States. The Lee Jae Myung administration seeks to complete the second phase of the condition-based transfer assessment this year, aiming for full transfer before the end of its five-year term in 2030. The remarks appeared in a New Year's message posted on Facebook.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed interagency efforts on Tuesday to fulfill President Donald Trump's pledge for South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines. The commitment follows last week's summit where President Lee Jae Myung sought US approval for nuclear fuel supplies. South Korea's defense ministry anticipates launching its first homegrown nuclear submarine in the mid-to-late 2030s.
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South Korea and the United States' defense chiefs will hold the 57th Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul on November 4. This marks the first in-person talks between the new ministers, focusing on alliance issues like North Korea policy coordination and combined defense posture. Both sides aim to advance their partnership in response to evolving security challenges.