Seoul: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that "model allies" such as South Korea, who take initiatives for their own defense, will be rewarded with "special favor" from Washington. He also cautioned that there will be "consequences" for those allies who do not meet their defense commitments.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Hegseth made these comments at the Reagan National Defense Forum held in Simi Valley, California. He highlighted that South Korea and NATO members have pledged to enhance their defense spending in response to President Donald Trump's call for allies to shoulder more of their security responsibilities.

Hegseth identified Israel, South Korea, Poland, Germany, and the Baltic nations as "model allies" who will benefit from the U.S.'s special favor. He stressed that allies who fail to contribute adequately to collective defense efforts will face repercussions.

Hegseth specifically pointed out Seoul's recent commitment to increasing its defense budget. "Just last month, South Korea committed to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on core military spending and assume the leading role in the ROK's conventional defense," he stated. He expressed confidence that other allies in the Indo-Pacific region will adopt similar measures.