The Ministry of National Defense emphasized on the 31st that it attended the 22nd Asia Security Conference (Shangri-La Dialogue) held in Singapore and urged the U.S. congressional delegation to maintain the current level of U.S. troops in Korea.
In his capacity as a government representative, Deputy Minister Cho Chang-rae held separate meetings with the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives delegations on the afternoon of the same day (local time) to discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and ways to advance the Korea-U.S. alliance.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister Cho stated that the South Korean military and the 28,500 U.S. troops should enhance deterrence against North Korea based on the combined defense posture to maintain regional peace and stability.
He also expressed gratitude for the continued efforts of the U.S. Congress based on bipartisan recognition of the importance of U.S. troops in Korea and requested ongoing roles in this regard.
Concerns have been raised that the U.S. Trump administration may adjust the number of U.S. troops in Korea to counter China, and this was a call for Congress to support maintaining the current level of U.S. troops in Korea.
The U.S. Senate and House delegation reaffirmed America’s firm defense commitment to Korea and stated that it would leverage all military capabilities to provide extended deterrence, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister Cho welcomed the U.S. Congress’s initial specification of strengthening Korea-U.S. defense cooperation in the ’2025 National Defense Authorization Act' and urged support for U.S. interest in and support for defense cooperation, including technology cooperation in shipbuilding, maintenance, repair, and advanced scientific technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and manned-unmanned hybrid systems.
He also requested U.S. congressional support for the relaxation of domestic legal restrictions and the conclusion of the Defense Procurement Agreement (RDP-A) to activate Korea-U.S. defense cooperation.
The U.S. Senate and House delegations promised congressional support for efforts to strengthen Korea-U.S. defense cooperation and develop a science and technology alliance.
Attending the meeting were U.S. Senate delegation members Tammy Duckworth (Democrat) and Pete Ricketts (Republican), as well as House delegation members John Moolenaar (Republican), Brian Mast (Republican), and Greg Stanton (Democrat).