Washington: South Korea and the United States are poised to hold significant defense talks in Washington next week, as confirmed by a Pentagon spokesperson. This development underscores the ongoing security collaboration between the allies under the Trump administration, aimed at addressing the evolving threats posed by North Korea. The Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) is scheduled to occur at the Pentagon on Thursday and Friday, marking the first such meeting since President Donald Trump assumed office in January.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the spokesperson communicated that a joint press statement will be issued following the meeting. KIDD, initiated in 2011, serves as a comprehensive senior-level defense platform between the two nations. The forthcoming talks are expected to address various aspects of bilateral security policy cooperation, with a focus on reinforcing deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and enhancing the combined defense posture of the allies.
Additionally, the meeting will likely include a working-group session to evaluate the progress of the conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S. to South Korea. This session is anticipated to alleviate concerns regarding the potential impact of Seoul's political transition, following the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol, on the alignment of security policies between the allies.
Concerns have been heightened after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth omitted South Korea from his recent Indo-Pacific tour, which included Japan and the Philippines. His predecessor, Lloyd Austin, also canceled a planned visit to South Korea in December. Regarding the future operations of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a crucial deterrence body, the spokesperson stated that discussions are ongoing.
Earlier this week, a Seoul official indicated that both nations intend to continue operating the NCG under the Trump administration, with the next meeting anticipated as early as June. The NCG was established by former President Yoon and former U.S. President Joe Biden after their April 2023 summit, aimed at bolstering the U.S.'s "extended deterrence" promise to defend South Korea with its full military capabilities, including nuclear weapons.