70th Anniversary of the Korean War, ROK-US Defense Ministers: "Blood Allies... Let's Go Together"

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (right) and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper shake hands at a joint press conference held after the 51st Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) between Korea and the U.S., held on the 15th at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The South Korean and U.S. Departments of Defense on the 25th stated, "We demand that North Korea adhere to the promises made in the Singapore North Korea-U.S. summit joint statement and the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement."

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, the South Korean and U.S. Departments of Defense issued a joint statement urging North Korea, which has recently been creating military tensions, to comply with these commitments.

The South Korean and U.S. Departments of Defense emphasized, "We maintain a firm will to protect the hard-won peace on the Korean Peninsula and intend to continue supporting current diplomatic efforts to pursue North Korea's complete denuclearization in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions."

In particular, the South Korean and U.S. Departments of Defense evaluated, "On this day in 1950, brave South Korean and U.S. soldiers, who were far apart, united under common values and goals, giving birth to the South Korea-U.S. military alliance as a blood alliance."

They added, "Even after 70 years, the South Korea-U.S. alliance continues to serve as the linchpin of security, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asia region."

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, representing the two countries, expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices and courage of the soldiers who gave their lives to protect the Republic of Korea, a nation of freedom, democracy, and prosperity.

The two ministers also paid tribute to all soldiers who have guarded the Korean Peninsula since the 1953 armistice agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the combined defense posture to ensure lasting peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

Secretary Esper confirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea, and the two ministers agreed to strengthen and evolve the South Korea-U.S. alliance in response to current and future challenges.

The two ministers once again confirmed the importance of adherence to international rules and norms, including a rules-based international order and freedom of navigation and overflight. They agreed on the need to enhance cooperation amid complex global and regional security changes and to strengthen collaboration on various issues.

Additionally, the South Korean and U.S. Departments of Defense stated, "We will continue to seek synergies in the South Korea-U.S. regional strategy to maintain peace and security in Northeast Asia through trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan." They added, "Through information sharing, high-level policy consultations, and joint exercises, we will continue to promote peace and stability in the region."

Regarding COVID-19 response, the South Korean and U.S. Departments of Defense said, "We will continue to cooperate closely to respond to the global pandemic."

The South Korean and U.S. Departments of Defense stated, "The South Korea-U.S. alliance is based on mutual trust and shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," and added, "In this spirit, the two ministers have agreed to expand the scope and depth of bilateral cooperation to strengthen security relations and to carry on the tradition of the South Korea-U.S. combined forces well into the distant future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.