Heads of ROK-US Joint Chiefs Confer... "Reaffirm Commitment to Deterring North Korea's Expansion and Defending South Korea"

Charles Brown, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who visited South Korea, and Kim Seung-gyeom, Chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, reaffirmed their commitment to extended deterrence against North Korea and the defense of South Korea.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Seung-gyeom (right) and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown salute at the welcoming ceremony held at the Ministry of National Defense parade ground in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Seung-gyeom and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown engage in conversation while attending the welcoming ceremony at the Ministry of National Defense parade ground in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the morning of the 12th at 9 a.m., Kim Seung-gyeom and Brown, the two countries' Joint Chiefs of Staff, held the 48th Military Committee Meeting (MCM) immediately following a welcoming ceremony at the Ministry of National Defense parade ground in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The MCM is an annual meeting held to provide strategic directives and operational guidance for the defense of South Korea to the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Commander and to discuss military issues between the two countries. Since its first meeting in 1978, it has been held alternately in Seoul and Washington, D.C.

On the Korean side, Jin Young-seung, Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Planning Division, attended, while on the U.S. side, John Aquilino, Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, was present. Representing the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, General Paul LaCamera, the Combined Forces Commander, also attended.

During the meeting, the two countries discussed North Korea's continuous provocations, including missile launches and nuclear threats, as well as major security issues undermining peace and stability in the region. In particular, Chairman Brown reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence and the defense of the Republic of Korea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The two countries also shared the recognition that it is more important than ever to develop a strong combined defense system under the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty and pledged to make their best efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

The issue of wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer was also discussed at the meeting, but it was reported that the verification of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces' Full Operational Capability (FOC) was not reviewed. The two Joint Chiefs of Staff only stated that "meaningful progress has been made in advancing the conditions-based wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer, including the completion of the 2023 ROK-U.S. joint evaluation of capabilities and systems related to the OPCON transfer."

Through this meeting, the two countries recognized "the importance of the ironclad ROK-U.S. alliance, which marks its 70th anniversary," and evaluated that "the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance demonstrates the sacrifices and dedication of the alliance to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

Kim Seung-gyeom, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (left), and Charles Brown, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, are attending a welcoming ceremony at the Ministry of National Defense parade ground in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th, engaging in conversation. 2023.11.12 Photo by Joint Press Corps

After the meeting, the two Joint Chiefs of Staff distributed the results in the form of a 'joint press release.' The meeting results are scheduled to be reported at the 55th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul on the 14th, chaired by South Korean Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Chairman Brown, who embarked on an Asia tour, arrived in Seoul the day before by U.S. Air Force aircraft after holding meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Japan. This visit to South Korea is Brown's first since assuming the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September. Brown, a former U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter pilot, has previously served twice in South Korea. From 1987 to 1988, he served as an F-16 fighter pilot (lieutenant) with the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Forces Korea, and in 2007, he was appointed as the commander of the 8th Fighter Wing as a colonel, serving for one year. The 8th Fighter Wing is located in Gunsan, Jeonbuk Province.

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