Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that South Korea will take a larger role in defense against North Korean aggression as Seoul has pledged to up its investments in military capabilities and bolster defense spending.
Hegseth said he is “greatly encouraged” by South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back’s commitment to increase defense spending and make “greater” investments in the country’s military ability, including “critical” missile defense and space capabilities that “our forces need to preserve the peace and prevail, God forbid, in war.”
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in early October that South Korea will increase its defense spending by 8.2 percent next year in order to produce autonomous drones, precision-guided missiles and combat robots.
The U.S. defense secretary said the alliance between Washington and Seoul is “stronger than ever before” and touted the agreement to have American ships maintained and repaired in South Korea.
“I’m confident that we will continue to lead the region toward a more safe and secure future,” Hegseth said.
Still, the crux of the alliance between Washington and Seoul is predicated on deterring Pyongyang’s aggression, Hegseth said, who earlier in the week visited the Demilitarized Zone on the border with North Korea.
Ahn shut down the idea of South Korea developing its own nuclear weapons program.
Last week, when announcing a trade deal, President Trump said he had allowed South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine in Philadelphia.
Hegseth said the U.S. fully supports South Korea’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines and that the Pentagon will work “closely” with the department of Energy and State.
“President Trump wants our allies to be strong, and the Republic of Korea is a model ally,” Hegseth said. “Because of that, the president has been open to Korea acquiring greater and more advanced capabilities.”
