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South Korea and U.S. Defense Chiefs Pledge Deeper Deterrence and Industry Collaboration

Their inaugural call sets out to reinforce the U.S. nuclear umbrella with expanded shipbuilding alongside technology partnerships designed to counter evolving North Korean threats.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (L) poses with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of their talks at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on July 31, 2025, in this photo provided by South Korea's foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (R) speaks with U.S. Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, during their meeting in Washington on July 31, 2025, in this photo provided by South Korea's foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (L) poses with U.S. Republican Sen. Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, during their meeting in Washington on July 31, 2025, in this photo provided by South Korea's foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, released by the Associated Press, shows U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaking during a meeting with the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at the Pentagon in Washington on July 25, 2025. (Yonhap)

Overview

  • Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held their first call since Ahn’s inauguration, pledging to deepen extended deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
  • They agreed to broaden alliance cooperation into shipbuilding, maintenance, repair and overhaul operations and joint advanced science and technology initiatives.
  • Hegseth reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to South Korea’s defense and emphasized making the bilateral posture strategically sustainable through close consultations.
  • Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed a resolute commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearization and the full enforcement of international sanctions, citing concerns over Pyongyang’s military ties with Russia.
  • They also agreed to strengthen trilateral coordination with Japan and expand strategic economic cooperation under the U.S.-ROK trade deal, emphasizing resilient supply chains and critical and emerging technology partnerships.