U.S. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth commended South Korea’s plans to enhance military spending as the allies aim to bolster deterrence against North Korean aggression.
U.S. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth expressed strong support for South Korea’s initiative to increase its military spending and assume a more significant role in defending against North Korean threats. This development comes as the U.S. seeks to shift its focus towards addressing challenges posed by China.
During a press briefing following annual security discussions with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, Hegseth conveyed his optimism regarding South Korea’s commitment to enhancing its defense capabilities. He stated that the increased investments would empower South Korea to lead its conventional deterrence efforts against North Korea.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung addressed lawmakers on Tuesday, advocating for an 8.2% increase in defense spending for the upcoming year. He emphasized that this funding boost would facilitate the modernization of military weapon systems and reduce South Korea’s reliance on U.S. military support.
Hegseth highlighted the ongoing defense cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea, particularly in the maintenance and repair of U.S. warships stationed in South Korea. He noted that these activities leverage South Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities and ensure that the U.S. military remains prepared to respond to any crisis.
“We face, as we both acknowledge, a dangerous security environment, but our alliance is stronger than ever,” Hegseth remarked, underscoring the importance of the U.S.-South Korea partnership in the current geopolitical landscape.
While the primary focus of the alliance is to counter potential North Korean aggression, Hegseth acknowledged that other regional threats also warrant attention. “There’s no doubt flexibility for regional contingencies is something we would take a look at, but we are focused on standing by our allies here and ensuring the threat of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is not a threat to the Republic of Korea,” he stated. He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to extending nuclear deterrence as previously established.
In recent years, discussions between the U.S. and South Korea have revolved around integrating U.S. nuclear capabilities with South Korea’s conventional military assets. Notably, South Korea does not possess its own nuclear weapons. Defense Minister Ahn dismissed speculation regarding the country’s potential pursuit of a nuclear weapons program or the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons, which were withdrawn from South Korea in the 1990s.
On the same day, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the country had detected North Korea test-firing approximately ten rounds of artillery into its western waters on Monday, just prior to Hegseth’s arrival at an inter-Korean border village for his two-day visit to South Korea. Earlier in the week, Hegseth had also visited the Demilitarized Zone along the North Korean border.
As the security situation in the region continues to evolve, the commitment from both the U.S. and South Korea to enhance military readiness and cooperation remains crucial in addressing the persistent threat posed by North Korea.
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