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4d ago

Paparo Wraps Japan–Korea Tour With Seoul Talks and Incheon Commemoration Appearance

The visit underscores a push to harden regional deterrence in light of North Korea’s growing missile and nuclear programs.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (R) shakes hands with Adm. Samuel Paparo Jr., commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, before their talks at the ministry headquarters in Seoul on Sept. 14, 2025, in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (L) shakes hands with Adm. Samuel Paparo Jr., commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, before their talks at the ministry headquarters in Seoul on Sept. 14, 2025, in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • In Seoul on Sunday, Adm. Samuel Paparo met Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun to discuss the security situation and ways to strengthen the South Korea–U.S. alliance.
  • South Korean officials and Paparo judged North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and its military cooperation with Russia to be a major threat, emphasizing the need for firm combined readiness.
  • The discussions reaffirmed the importance of trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan to help deter and respond to North Korean threats.
  • Paparo attended the Incheon Landing 75th anniversary eve reception, the first participation by a USINDOPACOM commander in the commemoration, before departing Korea after a shortened stay.
  • Earlier in Tokyo, Paparo and JSDF Chief Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura signed an 8‑Star memorandum to deepen interoperability through exercises such as Keen Edge, expanded information sharing, technology collaboration and logistics coordination, and he engaged partners at Expo 2025 in Osaka.