Lee makes unprecedented visit to Pentagon

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Wed, November 29, 2023 | 04:32

Lee makes unprecedented visit to Pentagon

Posted : 2011-10-13 08:07

Updated : 2011-10-13 08:07

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak paid an unprecedented visit to the Pentagon on Wednesday and received a briefing from top American military officials on North Korea and other security issues, the presidential office said.

Lee is the first South Korean president to visit the Pentagon.

The previously unscheduled event was organized after the U.S. invited Lee, saying it wants to brief him on Washington's position regarding the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, the presidential office said.

"The U.S. government's invitation of President Lee to the Pentagon is an act of showing respect to the head of state of the ally South Korea and reaffirming the firm U.S. commitment to security on the Korean Peninsula," a presidential official said.

The U.S. participants in the meeting included Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey, and all other top American military commanders, such as the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, the office said.

The U.S. Department of Defense said the leaders "discussed a range of security-related alliance issues, including how best to work together to improve alliance capabilities and deterrence measures."

The U.S. side "provided President Lee with an updated North Korea threat assessment in the Chairman's secure conference room, the Tank," according to Capt. John Kirby, deputy assistant secretary of defense.

"Today's briefing represents the first time in recent history that a foreign head of state has been briefed by the service chiefs in the Tank," he said.

"Secretary Panetta hosted Defense Minister Kim (Kwan-jin) in the Secretary's office for follow-up discussions about peninsular security, to include potential agenda items for the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) to be held in Seoul Oct. 28.

Secretary Panetta affirmed that the U.S.-ROK Alliance is a cornerstone of stability in Northeast Asia and has never been stronger," he added. ROK is the acronym of South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Lee arrived in Washington on Tuesday for a five-day state visit that includes talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and an address to a joint session of Congress. The trip coincided with the upcoming U.S. ratification of a long-pending free-trade agreement between the two countries.

The United States fought alongside South Korea against invading troops from North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. The conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the divided peninsula still technically at war.

About 28,500 American troops are currently stationed in South Korea to help deter the North.