South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik held his first talks in his new position with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, discussing the response to North Korean threats and the strengthening of cooperation, as reported by the Ministry of Defense of South Korea.
The ministers highly praised the achievements made by the governments of both countries in strengthening the US-South Korea alliance, noting that this cooperation is deepening and expanding into a “comprehensive global strategic partnership,” according to the Ministry of Defense.
Additionally, the ministers emphasized the need to maintain a strong joint defense position between South Korea and the US to deter and respond to nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. To achieve this goal, the parties agreed to expand security cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan based on the Camp David agreements signed in August, as well as continue negotiations in Seoul at the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) between the two countries.
Shin Won-sik assumed the position of defense minister at the beginning of October.
In North Korea, commenting on NATO’s nuclear exercises, they stated that the “nuclear frenzy” of the US has already exceeded dangerous limits and is manifesting itself on the Korean Peninsula.
Previously, North Korea referred to the US submarine’s arrival in South Korea as a “condition for the use of nuclear weapons.”
