April 21, 2020
The Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense
(MND) and the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) held the 17th
Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) on April 21, 2020. Due to travel restrictions as a result of the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the KIDD was held remotely via secure video
teleconferencing. ROK Deputy Minister
for National Defense Policy Chung Sukhwan and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense (DASD) for East Asia Heino Klinck led their respective delegations
composed of key ROK and U.S. defense officials.
DASD Klinck applauded the Republic of Korea (ROK)'s
proactive leadership in combating COVID-19 as a model of transparency,
flexibility, and rapid response for the world. He also expressed gratitude for
the ROK’s efforts in support of U.S. forces and their families in the ROK. The
two sides also acknowledged effective coordination to contain COVID-19.
Both sides assessed the ongoing joint work to conclude the
11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA), emphasizing the importance of concluding
the SMA at a fair and mutually agreeable level that strengthens the ROK-U.S.
Alliance and its combined defense posture.
Both delegations reviewed the Conditions-Based Operational
Control (OPCON) Transition Plan and concurred on the importance of completing
and assessing the strategic documents.
They also discussed impacts and the way ahead on the certification
assessment for the full operational capability (FOC) schedule in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic and other factors.
Both sides discussed ways to strengthen the Alliance's
military readiness and combined defense posture to address the dynamic security
changes on the Korean Peninsula and to deepen U.S.-ROK cooperation long into
the future.
The two sides also shared assessments on the recent missile
launches by North Korea and reaffirmed the importance of continuing close
coordination to remain vigilant in the face of North Korean actions. Furthermore, the two sides committed to
cooperate closely on achieving the complete denuclearization of North
Korea. Both sides pledged to work
jointly in 2020 to devise measures to strengthen the deterrence posture of the
ROK-U.S. Alliance through the Deterrence Strategy Committee (DSC).
The two sides reaffirmed that the KIDD continues to play a
critical role in coordinating defense policies between the ROK and the United
States. They also pledged to continue
close communication and cooperation to maintain and strengthen the combined
readiness posture of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, which serves as the linchpin of
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asian region.
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