Washington: The chiefs of the South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps have engaged in discussions aimed at expanding military cooperation and joint drills to enhance their combined defense readiness posture. Officials confirmed these talks took place on Tuesday at the Pentagon, near Washington.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lt. Gen. Ju Il-suk met with his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Eric M. Smith, during his visit. The discussions were centered around efforts to reinforce a combined defense posture between the two allies, even after the planned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul. Gen. Smith emphasized the importance of the Marine Corps in maintaining a robust and enduring alliance, expressing a desire to continue joint drills and personnel exchanges to contribute to the security of the Korean Peninsula.

Lt. Gen. Ju's visit also included stops at significant sites such as the Korean War veterans memorial, the Arlington National Cemetery, and the Korean War memorial commemorating the Changjin Reservoir Battle. These visits were to honor and pay respects to the U.S. soldiers who participated in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. The visit, scheduled from June 1-7, was conducted at the invitation of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command.