ROK, US defense chiefs vow strong response to N. Korean provocations

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo salute during an honor guard in front of the defense ministry building in central Seoul, Friday, before having talks over the two countries' joint efforts to counter North Korea's nuclear threats. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-kee

By Jun Ji-hye

Defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States reaffirmed Friday their determination to strengthen joint deterrence measures against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

During their first-ever talks since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Defense Minister Han Min-koo and his U.S. counterpart James Mattis agreed to continue to improve the Seoul-Washington alliance with the latter vowing to continue providing South Korea with extended deterrence.

The talks took place at the Ministry of National Defense in central Seoul. Mattis visited Seoul for two days in his first overseas trip since taking office less than two weeks ago, and left for Japan Friday afternoon.

Extended deterrence refers to Washington's stated commitment to defend its ally by mobilizing all military capabilities ― nuclear and conventional ― to deal with the North's provocations.

Han and Mattis also reaffirmed the need to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here this year as planned despite protest from China and Russia.

"The two top defense officials jointly assessed North Korea's growing threats including its leader's claim that the country has entered the final stages for test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile," the ministry said in a press release. "The two exchanged various opinions on the security situation in North Korea and on the possibility of future provocations."

Kim made such a claim during his New Year address, raising military tension here.

Sharing the need to respond to any North Korean provocations effectively and overwhelmingly, Han and Mattis agreed to continue to discuss whether Washington will regularly deploy strategic assets, such as nuclear-capable bombers, to South Korea as part of measures to enhance its extended deterrence.

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The issue has been discussed since it was brought up during the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in October between Minister Han and former U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

Mattis said in his introductory remarks that America's commitment to defending its allies and upholding its extended deterrence guarantees remain ironclad.

"Any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming," he said.

After the meeting, a high-ranking ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity, that the two also agreed to strengthen the allies' Key Resolve joint exercise scheduled for March to better deter North Korean threats.

"Considering the possibility of the North pushing ahead with provocations on the occasion of the Key Resolve drill, the two nations shared the need to carry out strengthened Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises," he said.

On speculation that the U.S. bombers and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers could participate in the exercises, the official said, "No decision has been made yet."

The official also downplayed the speculation that the two sides might have discussed issues related to defense cost-sharing, saying, "The issue was not on the agenda."

The speculation has been raised as President Trump pledged during his campaign to have wealthy allies such as South Korea and Japan shoulder more of the cost of American troops stationed in their countries, saying the U.S. should be prepared to withdraw its forces troops unless the allies agree to pay more.

Mattis noted that that he chose South Korea as his first destination as the Seoul-Washington alliance is very significant amid growing North Korean threats. This was seen as an apparent effort to reassure key allies unsettled by Trump's accusation, though he has significantly toned down this rhetoric since his election and has talked increasingly about the importance of the alliance.

"This is my first overseas trip as secretary of defense," Mattis said. "I am here to underscore America's priority commitment to our bilateral alliance and to make clear the Trump administration's full commitment to the United Nations Mission in defense of your democracy."

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