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

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

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

Speaking alongside South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, Hegseth said he was “greatly encouraged” by Seoul’s commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities through increased military investments. The Pentagon chief emphasized that these developments would enhance South Korea’s ability to lead conventional deterrence efforts against North Korean threats.

“We face, as we both acknowledge, a dangerous security environment, but our alliance is stronger than ever,” Hegseth told reporters after the 57th Security Consultative Meeting.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung addressed lawmakers earlier Tuesday, requesting approval for an 8.2% increase in defense spending for the upcoming year. The proposed budget aims to modernize the country’s weapons systems and reduce dependence on U.S. military support—a shift that aligns with Washington’s strategic goals in the Indo-Pacific region.

The United States has long encouraged South Korea to expand its conventional military capabilities, allowing Washington to focus more resources on addressing challenges posed by China’s growing influence in the region. This rebalancing reflects the Pentagon’s broader strategy to maintain stability across the Indo-Pacific while strengthening alliances with key partners.

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

The security talks come amid ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea test-fired approximately 10 rounds of artillery toward its western waters on Monday, just before Hegseth visited the inter-Korean border village with Minister Ahn.

During his two-day visit, Hegseth toured the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the North Korean border, underscoring the continued security challenges in the region. Observation Post Ouellette near Panmunjom, where Hegseth visited Monday, remains one of the most visible symbols of the unresolved Korean conflict.

While the U.S.-South Korea alliance primarily focuses on deterring potential North Korean aggression, Hegseth acknowledged that other regional threats must also be addressed. “There’s no doubt flexibility for regional contingencies is something we would take a look at,” he said, while emphasizing the commitment to standing by allies and extending nuclear deterrence.

The two nations have been discussing ways to integrate U.S. nuclear capabilities with South Korea’s conventional forces in recent years. However, Minister Ahn dismissed speculation that South Korea might pursue its own nuclear weapons program or advocate for the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons that were removed from the peninsula in the 1990s.

This strategic realignment comes as both countries navigate a complex security landscape that includes North Korea’s advancing missile and nuclear programs, China’s regional assertiveness, and evolving geopolitical dynamics across Northeast Asia.

Military analysts note that South Korea’s increased defense spending—if approved by lawmakers—would represent one of the most significant boosts to the country’s military capabilities in decades, potentially reshaping the security balance in the region while cementing the enduring U.S.-South Korea alliance for years to come.