WASHINGTON -- Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. David Herndon provided the following readout:

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl departed the Republic of Korea (ROK) today after productive counterpart talks with the government of the Republic of Korea and site visits.

Affirming our ironclad commitment to the U.S.-ROK Alliance, Under Secretary Kahl met with Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup, Vice Minister of National Defense Shin Beom-chul, and First Deputy Director for the ROK National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo. Discussions focused on addressing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) destabilizing behavior, further enhancing our extended deterrence efforts through the upcoming inaugural meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group, developing additional trilateral security cooperation with Japan, and addressing regional security concerns by coordinating our security cooperation efforts in the Indo-Pacific.

Under Secretary Kahl's visit to the Republic of Korea emphasizes the strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance and the importance of working together as Allies to preserve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the broader Indo-Pacific region.