At their meeting, President Moon said that the ROK-U.S. alliance is more important than anything else for completing denuclearization and establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue. The President went on to urge the acting Defense Secretary to provide support so that the ironclad alliance can bring the peace process on the Korean Peninsula to a successful conclusion. 

President Moon and acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan reaffirmed the principle of maintaining sanctions against North Korea until meaningful progress is made in realizing the goal of denuclearization. 

After explaining the necessity of reunions for separated families, food aid and other humanitarian assistance to the North, President Moon requested close consultations and coordination between South Korea and the United States to that end.    

President Moon also stressed that easing military tension on the Korean Peninsula and improving inter-Korean relations have contributed to denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States. 

The acting Secretary of Defense replied that he held unshakable confidence in the ROK-U.S. alliance and that maintaining a robust ROK-U.S. combined defense posture has contributed to securing room for diplomacy to peacefully resolve Korean Peninsula issues.