President Moon Jae-in (right) talks to U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 27.

By Sohn JiAe

Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed that Korea and the U.S. will continue to address security crises on the Korean Peninsula, spurred by North Korea’s ceaseless nuclear weapons tests, based on their sound alliance.

This reaffirmation was made during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, on a trip to Seoul to attend the 49th Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting, at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 27.

“Seoul and Washington have a common goal that we both face today: face the ongoing provocations from Pyongyang and make the regime give up its nuclear weapons,” said President Moon. “To this end, both countries are currently working more closely with the international community than ever before.”

“Without strong security, we cannot maintain peace in the region. Korea and the U.S. should further strengthen North Korean nuclear deterrence based on the current solid combined defense readiness,” he added.

President Moon then asked for the U.S. defense secretary’s aggressive interest and support in rotating the allocation of the U.S.’ strategic military assets and in allowing Korea to attain and develop state-of-the-art strategic military assets, all agreed upon at the latest Korea-U.S. summit in September in New York. 

President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 27.

Calling the North’s obsession with the development of nuclear missiles, like the latest sixth test and constant provocations, "an actual threat to both countries,” the U.S. secretary of defense stressed that, “Under these circumstances, our security pledge with Korea remains unwavering.” 

“I will do my best to further enhance our nuclear deterrence capabilities against Pyongyang, like working more closely with Korean Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo,” the top defense diplomat added. 

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