Defense chief discusses ways to advance alliance with US envoy

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, left, and acting U.S. Ambassador Kevin Kim shake hands during their meeting in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Friday held talks with acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim to discuss ways to advance the Seoul-Washington alliance following summit talks between their leaders, the South's defense ministry said.

In the meeting, Ahn congratulated Kim on his appointment and called for close cooperation on advancing their alliance into a forward-looking and comprehensive strategic alliance, according to the ministry.

In October, President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held summit talks on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, of which the details outlining their discussions were released in a joint fact sheet this month.

Ahn also held annual security talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Seoul earlier this month.

In response, Kim reaffirmed the U.S. ironclad commitment to defending South Korea and pledged utmost efforts by the embassy to maintain and further advance the steadfast South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Ahn explained Seoul's ongoing efforts to establish sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula while maintaining a firm combined defense posture, to which Kim concurred on the importance of their bilateral coordination on North Korean policy.

Both sides agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the area of maintenance, repair and operations and shipbuilding and work together in a mutually beneficial and future-oriented manner to resolve necessary policy issues, the ministry said.

Their meeting came as the allies have been working to modernize the alliance amid a changing security environment, marked by a U.S. push urging its allies to shoulder more of the defense burden and to play a greater role to address an assertive China.

Kim, a former State Department deputy assistant secretary, was officially appointed as acting ambassador last month.