Pentagon Chief Praises South Korea’s Enhanced Role in North Korean Defense Strategy

U.S. Pentagon Chief Applauds South Korea’s Military Spending Boost as Alliance Shifts Strategy

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed strong support for South Korea’s plans to increase its military spending during annual security talks in Seoul on Tuesday, highlighting a strategic shift in the longstanding alliance.

During a joint press conference with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, Hegseth said he was “greatly encouraged” by Seoul’s commitment to raising defense expenditures and investing more heavily in its own military capabilities. The two officials agreed these investments would enhance South Korea’s ability to lead conventional deterrence efforts against North Korea.

“We face, as we both acknowledge, a dangerous security environment, but our alliance is stronger than ever,” Hegseth remarked following the 57th Security Consultative Meeting at South Korea’s Defense Ministry.

The Pentagon chief’s comments come as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung requested parliamentary approval for an 8.2% increase in defense spending for the coming year. In his address to lawmakers on Tuesday, President Lee emphasized that the additional funding would modernize the country’s weapons systems and reduce dependence on U.S. military support.

This shift aligns with Washington’s broader strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific region. The United States has encouraged South Korea to bolster its conventional defense capabilities, allowing American forces to focus more attention on countering China’s growing military presence in the region.

Hegseth specifically highlighted cooperation in repairing and maintaining U.S. warships in South Korea, noting that such activities leverage South Korea’s advanced shipbuilding infrastructure while ensuring that “our most lethal capabilities remain ready to respond to any crisis.”

The evolution of the U.S.-South Korea defense relationship reflects changing regional dynamics and security threats. While the alliance remains primarily focused on deterring North Korean aggression, Hegseth acknowledged that other regional contingencies could potentially require 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, adding that the U.S. would “continue to extend nuclear deterrence as we have before.”

In recent years, discussions between Washington and Seoul have centered on integrating U.S. nuclear weapons capabilities with South Korean conventional forces. South Korea itself does not possess nuclear weapons, and Defense Minister Ahn dismissed speculation that the country might pursue its own nuclear program or request the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons that were withdrawn from South Korean territory in the 1990s.

The security talks took place against a backdrop of continued provocations from North Korea. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea had test-fired approximately 10 rounds of artillery toward its western waters on Monday, just before Hegseth and Ahn visited the inter-Korean border village that marked the beginning of Hegseth’s two-day visit to South Korea.

Earlier in his trip, Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas and the Observation Post Ouellette near the border village of Panmunjom, underscoring the persistent tensions on the peninsula.

The defense talks in Seoul come at a critical time for regional security in Northeast Asia, with North Korea’s nuclear program advancing and China expanding its military influence. South Korea’s increased defense investment signals its determination to take on a more significant role in maintaining stability in the region, while still working within the framework of its seven-decade alliance with the United States.