WASHINGTON -- On October 4, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-Sup held a call to address the threats posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear and missile programs and to reaffirm the U.S.-Republic of Korea Alliance’s resolve to maintain regional peace and stability.

The two leaders shared their assessments of yesterday’s DPRK missile launch. They agreed that it was a serious escalation and a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The two leaders also supported further discussions on bilateral and trilateral defense cooperation with Japan to respond to the DPRK threat, and to continue efforts to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Secretary Austin reiterated that the U.S. commitment to the defense of the ROK remains ironclad.