U.S. Official Praises South Korea’s Military Expansion Amid Regional Tensions

U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth commended South Korea’s plans to increase military spending, stating Tuesday that the Asian ally will play a larger role in defending against North Korean threats as alliances prepare for “regional contingencies.”

Modernizing the long-standing U.S.-South Korea alliance has become a contentious topic, with Washington urging Seoul to enhance its conventional defense capabilities to shift focus toward China. Following security talks with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, Hegseth expressed approval of Seoul’s commitment to boost defense spending and invest in military capabilities. He emphasized that these efforts would strengthen South Korea’s ability to lead conventional deterrence against North Korea.

In a parliamentary speech, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged lawmakers to approve an 8.2% rise in defense funding for the next year, citing the need to modernize weapons systems and reduce reliance on U.S. military support. Hegseth highlighted cooperation on repairing U.S. warships in South Korea, noting the nation’s advanced shipbuilding expertise ensures readiness to address crises.

“We face a dangerous security environment, but our alliance remains robust,” Hegseth said. He noted the partnership primarily addresses North Korean provocations but must also consider broader regional threats. “Flexibility for regional contingencies is under discussion, but our focus remains on supporting allies and maintaining nuclear deterrence,” he added.

South Korea has no nuclear weapons and operates under U.S. nuclear commitments. Defense Minister Ahn denied rumors of South Korea pursuing its own nuclear program or seeking the return of U.S. tactical weapons removed in the 1990s, reaffirming adherence to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. A “conventional-nuclear integration” framework was established to combine U.S. nuclear capabilities with South Korea’s conventional forces.

Hegseth and Ahn did not issue a joint statement after their meeting, leaving details of agreements unclear. Hegseth claimed no disagreements existed, though progress required further time. During separate discussions, Lee reiterated support for transferring wartime operational control of allied forces to a binational command led by a South Korean general, a move seen as a sovereignty issue by many Koreans.

South Korea’s military detected North Korea firing around 10 artillery rounds toward its western waters Monday, shortly before Hegseth’s arrival for a two-day visit. The North also fired similar rounds Saturday, preceding a summit between Lee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Lee urged Beijing to mediate with Pyongyang. North Korea criticized the Lee-Xi meeting, dismissing Seoul’s hopes for denuclearization as unrealistic.