US-South Korea alliance
President Lee Jae-myung met with six U.S. lawmakers from the Congressional Study Group on Korea in Seoul on April 2 and reaffirmed his commitment to regaining wartime operational control from Washington. He stated that along with increasing defense spending, South Korea aims to reduce the U.S. burden and safeguard peace on the Korean Peninsula with its own capabilities. The remarks follow criticism from former President Donald Trump.
Reported by AI
A senior Pentagon official touted US military redeployment flexibility as a 'tremendous strength' in a congressional hearing, addressing concerns over shifting THAAD assets from South Korea to the Middle East—following Seoul's expressed regrets earlier this month.