US, South Korean defense chiefs discuss Korean Peninsula’s security

WASHINGTON

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart Shin Won-sik discussed defense and security priorities on the Korean Peninsula in a phone call, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

"The Secretary reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. extended deterrence commitment to the defense of the ROK (Republic of Korea)," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Austin and Shin also agreed that they and their departments will continue to communicate frequently about key security issues.

"They also commended the progress on U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral security cooperation and emphasized the importance of expanding broader regional cooperation by the United States and the ROK with other partners," it said.

The call came as the US and South Korea continue to deepen defense and security cooperation to advance a shared regional vision for peace, stability and prosperity, according to the statement.

North Korea's recent guided missile tests have raised concerns not only in South Korea but also in Japan, another key US ally in the region. In response, the three countries have intensified military cooperation and joint exercises aimed at countering the North Korean threat.

While the US administration urges China to leverage its influence over Pyongyang to compel North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs, Beijing insists that resolving the issue requires addressing the underlying mistrust between the US and North Korea.