SEOUL, December 1, Reuters - U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other top military officials were due to visit South Korea on Wednesday to discuss the future of their military alliance and plan to counter threats from North Korea.
Austin was expected to arrive on Wednesday afternoon, while General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived earlier.
The two were scheduled to participate in annual consultative meetings with South Korea, which hosts around 28,500 American troops as a legacy of the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
The meetings are the first official Security Consultative Meeting between the allies since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January.
Seoul is trying to persuade Washington to back an end to war declaration as a way to jumpstart stalled denuclearisation talks with North Korea. U.S. officials have expressed support for such a declaration, but they also say there may be disagreements with South Korea over the sequence of such measures.
North Korea accuses South Korea and the United States of causing tensions with their joint military activities, while the allies claim that their forces are needed to deter North Korea.
South Korea's efforts to win wartime operational control of combined military forces is another issue expected to be top of the agenda in Seoul. A U.S. general would command those forces during a war.
The transition was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to key military drills and other meetings being cancelled.
According to the joint statement, Milley met General In-Choul Won, South Korea's Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.
General Milley and General Won recognized the enduring alliance and highlighted significant advancements made to strengthen cooperation during the discussions.
Milley emphasized the commitment of the United States to provide extended deterrence to South Korea, a reference to Washington's vow to defend its ally with nuclear weapons if necessary.
Austin is scheduled to meet with Defence Minister Suh Wook on Thursday, as well as attend ceremonial events.