Seoul: South Korea’s acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho and the newly appointed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth engaged in their first phone conversation, emphasizing the strong alliance between the two nations, as confirmed by Seoul’s defense ministry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussion highlighted the necessity to enhance and expand the bilateral alliance, which has been pivotal for maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding region for the past 70 years. Hegseth assured the U.S.’s unwavering commitment to South Korea’s defense and pledged to collaborate closely with Seoul to strengthen this partnership.
Amid North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats, both defense chiefs concurred on the significance of sustaining their combined defense posture to effectively deter and respond to such challenges. They also agreed to continue enhancing trilateral security cooperation with Japan, bolstering the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
The defense leaders expres
sed their concerns regarding the growing military ties between North Korea and Russia, committing to jointly address the global security threats alongside the international community. In a separate statement, Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot reiterated Hegseth’s commitment under President Donald Trump’s leadership, with both parties focusing on maintaining a robust combined defense posture.
Hegseth, who assumed office last week, is the first defense secretary appointed in U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, following his return to the White House earlier this month.