U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Washington would explore "flexibility" for American troops stationed in South Korea to address regional threats while maintaining the alliance’s core focus on deterring North Korea.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Seoul with South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back, Hegseth said the two allies were discussing adjustments to their military cooperation as part of efforts to strengthen deterrence and adapt to a changing regional security landscape.
When asked whether the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea could be used in operations beyond the Korean Peninsula, including potential conflicts involving China, Hegseth said that protecting against nuclear-armed North Korea remained the alliance’s central goal.
"But there's no doubt that flexibility for regional contingency is something we would take a look at," he said.
Hegseth confirmed that the two sides were working on a joint communique addressing defence costs, strategic cooperation, and South Korea’s growing military investments. The allies also agreed that South Korea would maintain and repair U.S. naval vessels, ensuring their readiness in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to back South Korea’s plan to build nuclear-powered submarines was also discussed. Hegseth said the move reflected Trump’s desire to strengthen capable allies.
"He wants our allies to have the best capabilities," he said. "And because Korea has been a model ally, he's open to opportunities like that, that ensure they have the best capabilities in their own defence and alongside us as allies."
Hegseth declined to comment on details of Trump’s approval. South Korean officials have said they could launch a nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s if provided with fuel from the United States.
Addressing concerns that Seoul might pursue its own nuclear weapons, Ahn reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"Therefore, there will be no development of nuclear weapons in the Republic of Korea," he said.
Hegseth’s comments came a day after he visited the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, where he met South Korean troops and Defence Minister Ahn. The visit, which included a tour of the Panmunjom truce village, underscored what Ahn called the "symbolic and declarative" strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
The two defence chiefs held their annual Security Consultative Meeting on Tuesday, the highest-level forum for charting the future of the alliance. Discussions focused on combined defence readiness, cyber and missile defence cooperation, and adapting joint strategies to what Seoul’s Defence Ministry described as a "changing security environment and threats." In this context, Washington says is considering adjustments to the regional role of U.S. forces to support stability in Asia amid concerns over shifting security dynamics in the South China Sea.
Seoul remains measured about expanding the mission of U.S. troops beyond the peninsula but continues to advance its own defence capabilities, including plans to assume wartime operational control of combined forces.
South Korea, which has about 450,000 active troops, is planning its largest defence budget increase in years in 2026, partly in response to Trump’s calls for U.S. allies to pay more for hosting American forces.
On Monday, the two countries’ Joint Chiefs of Staff met and reaffirmed their cooperation with other allies to safeguard Indo-Pacific security. South Korea’s Defence Ministry described the regional environment as "complex and unstable," noting that North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear and missile arsenal despite repeated offers of dialogue from Trump and President Lee Jae Myung.
China’s ruling Communist Party is stepping up oversight of technology firms, internet platforms and digital finance in a sweeping drive to ta...
A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing diversions, airport closures and fighter jet esc...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he clai...
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens head to the polls on 3 November to elect the House of Representatives and Senate. How they vote could influence the direction of Donald Trump’s remaining 26 months in office and the outcomes of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
A six-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-held Ukrainian town of Oleshky ended on Sunday, 1 November, after facilitating aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
Kyrgyzstan has emerged as Central Asia’s fastest-growing economy, fuelled by a construction boom, public investment and trade linked to Russia. But with Western sanctions tightening, can the country sustain its rapid growth?
Russia airstrikes on a school used as a humanitarian aid distribution point in southeastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 26 people, including rescue workers and police officers, Ukrainian officials said. Another 27 people were reported missing.
China’s ruling Communist Party is stepping up oversight of technology firms, internet platforms and digital finance in a sweeping drive to tackle corruption and tighten control over the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing diversions, airport closures and fighter jet escorts. No explosives have been found, raising questions about who is behind the alerts and whether the disruption itself is the goal.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he claims to have reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Ukraine's negotiators will meet with Russian and U.S. delegations in Abu Dhabi next week for the first peace talks mediated by Washington since February.
Spanish police are investigating the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died after a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a second-division football match. The case raises questions about when an on-field challenge can become a criminal offence.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment