Seoul: South Korea and the United States held discussions this week in Seoul aimed at "modernizing" their bilateral alliance to evolve it into a "comprehensive strategic" partnership, both nations announced on Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the talks took place on Thursday and Friday amid a backdrop of the Trump administration's push for increased "burden sharing" among allies, particularly in countering China's growing assertiveness. The joint press release emphasized the intention to transform the U.S.-ROK alliance into a "future-oriented" and "mutually beneficial" one, addressing the dynamic regional security environment.

The term "modernizing the alliance" was clarified by Mignon Houston, the State Department's deputy spokesperson, who stated that it involves a "future-focused" strategy. This approach considers the shared experience, expertise, and resources of the two nations, with an emphasis on emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.

Houston highlighted South Korea's position as a leading economy with substantial expertise, noting that the U.S. government aims to develop a forward-looking agenda. This includes addressing vulnerabilities such as cybercrimes and cryptocurrency, in collaboration with like-minded countries possessing relevant expertise and resources.

The consultations were led by Hong Jee-pio, director general for North American affairs at Seoul's foreign ministry, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kevin Kim. Key officials from both nations' foreign affairs and defense departments also participated in the meetings.