The South Korean and U.S. defense ministers met on the 4th and reaffirmed both sides’ intent regarding the authorization for South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines. They also showed agreement on modernizing the ROK-U.S. alliance by increasing South Korea’s defense spending and strengthening defense industry cooperation. The joint statement containing the ministers’ agreed items will be released after the ‘fact sheet’ (explanatory material) on the results of the ROK-U.S. tariff and security negotiations is published.

Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated this at a press briefing held after the 57th ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, that day. The SCM is the top-level bilateral body in the defense field that consults on and coordinates South Korea’s and the United States’ major military policies. This SCM was the first held since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration and the second-term Trump administration.

The two ministers discussed South Korea’s construction of nuclear-powered submarines at this SCM. In response to related questions, Hegseth said, “I reconfirm that President Trump approved this,” and, “The military authorities will do their utmost to provide active support.” President Trump said on the 30th of last month, the day after his meeting with President Lee Jae-myung, that he had “approved allowing South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines.” Regarding this, Hegseth said that President Trump “is convinced that (nuclear-powered submarines) will help not only South Korea’s own defense capabilities but also our ROK-U.S. alliance.”

He also left open the possibility of follow-up consultations regarding nuclear-powered submarines. Hegseth said, “We will continue to work closely with other relevant agencies, such as the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Energy.” This is interpreted as suggesting the possibility of approval by the Department of Energy, which handles nuclear policy including nuclear material, and of arranging a separate agreement with South Korea through the State Department.

He said, “South Korea has world-class capabilities in shipbuilding,” adding, “The U.S. government wants to expand cooperation not only on submarines but also in various areas such as surface combatants.” However, it is said that content related to nuclear-powered submarines will not be reflected in the SCM joint statement.

The two ministers aligned their views on modernizing the ROK-U.S. alliance in a direction that increases South Korea’s defense spending and strengthens defense industry cooperation.

Hegseth: “Extended deterrence to be provided without change”

Hegseth said, “I am very encouraged by the South Korean government’s statement that it will increase defense spending and strengthen military investments in missile, cyber, and other essential capabilities.”

Specifically, defense spending is expected to be agreed to rise to 3.5% of South Korea’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035. In that case, the Ministry of National Defense would increase the defense budget by 7.7% each year and is expected to reach defense spending equal to 3.5% of GDP, as requested by the U.S. side, before 2035.

While reaffirming the joint ROK-U.S. response to North Korea, Hegseth said South Korea’s role will expand. He said, “There is a need to enhance flexibility to cope with any other contingencies in the region,” adding, “South Korea will take a leading role in conventional defense against the North.” This is interpreted to mean that the United States needs to expand the strategic flexibility of U.S. Forces Korea to counter threats such as China, and that, to this end, South Korea will lead responses to conventional threats from the North.

In this context, the SCM joint statement is said to include progress related to the transfer of wartime operational control. Hegseth, however, maintained the policy of responding to the North’s nuclear threat, saying, “We will continue to provide extended deterrence to South Korea.”

The SCM joint statement was not released that day. Minister Ahn said, “As the fact sheet (containing the agreements from the ROK-U.S. summit) is still in progress, we will announce it later.”