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.
South Korea's Defense Ministry announced that Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will meet in Seoul on November 4 for the 57th Security Consultative Meeting. This will be Hegseth's first in-person talks with his counterpart and the final stop of his Asia trip, following visits to Hawaii, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The Pentagon welcomed Seoul's increased defense spending and greater responsibility for alliance deterrence and defense.
Key agendas include policy coordination on North Korea, combined defense posture, extended deterrence, and naval maintenance, repair, and overhaul. The ministry stated, "Both sides plan to discuss overall pending issues to advance the alliance in a future-oriented and mutually beneficial direction to respond to the changing security environment and threats."
The Pentagon highlighted themes of the Asia trip as America's Indo-Pacific focus, the priority theater; the importance of allies stepping up defense spending and contributions to collective defense; and commitment to close cooperation. The meeting occurs amid speculations on U.S. Forces Korea's role due to China's assertiveness and South Korea's pledge to regain wartime operational control within President Lee Jae-myung's term. North Korea is deepening military ties with Russia while advancing nuclear and missile programs, unveiling the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile in a parade earlier this month.