News

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meetings in Laos for the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus
November 21, 2024 — Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his engagements with counterparts in Laos today, where he attended the 11th annual ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)... MORE

Joint Readout From Australia-Japan-Philippines-Republic of Korea-United States Defense Ministers' Meeting
November 21, 2024 — Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III met together for the first time on November 21 in Vientiane, Laos PDR... MORE

US Air Force transitioning from A-10s to cutting-edge upgrades in Korea
November 13, 2024 — The U.S. Air Force is set to complete a significant phase of its modernization strategy in fiscal year 2025. In key regions, including South Korea, it will transition away from its A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft in favor of advancing fourth-generation fighter jet upgrades and enhancing fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft integration... MORE

ROK, U.S. conduct large scale F-16 aerial maneuvers for Freedom Flag 24-1
October 31, 2024 — The U.S. and Republic of Korea ai forces conducted large scale aerial maneuvers as part of Freedom Flag 24-1, Oct. 31, 2024... MORE

Eight F-16 fighter jets fly in a v formation over blue water with white clouds. The jets are seen from below and to the side.

Regional Cooperation Framework for U.S.-ROK Alliance Contributions to Security in the Indo-Pacific
October 30, 2024 — The United States (U.S.) - Republic of Korea (ROK) Alliance remains the linchpin of peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the Indo-Pacific region... MORE

U.S.-Republic of Korea Security Consultative Meeting and 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue Fact Sheet
October 30, 2024 — During the 56th U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) on October 30, 2024, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and ROK Minister of National Defense Kim Yong Hyun advanced numerous initiatives that deepen our extended deterrence cooperation, modernize our alliance capabilities, and strengthen our contributions to regional security. ... MORE

56th Security Consultative Meeting Joint Communique
October 30, 2024 — The 56th United States (U.S.)-Republic of Korea (ROK) Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) was held in Washington, D.C., on October 30, 2024... MORE

U.S. Naval Forces Participate in Republic of Korea Multi-National Mine Warfare Exercise
October 25, 2024 — Naval forces from the U.S., the Republic of Korea (ROK) and 17 partner and allied nations concluded Multi-National Mine Warfare Exercise (MNMIWEX) 24 in Busan, ROK, Oct. 25, 2024... MORE

EOD technicians train during Multi-National Mine Warfare Exercise (MNMIWEX) 24 in the waters near Busan, Republic of Korea.

Austin Confirms North Korea Has Sent Troops to Russia
October 23, 2024 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III confirmed there are North Korean troops in Russia, but it is unclear if they are preparing to become a co-belligerent in Russia's war on Ukraine. ... MORE

15th MEU concludes month of training in S. Korea, first ACV amphibious assault during Ex Ssang Yong
September 24, 2024 — Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary concluded more than a month of training in South Korea Aug. 6 to Sept. 7, including participation in Exercise Ssang Yong 24, which featured the first amphibious assault using Amphibious Combat Vehicles during their inaugural deployment... MORE

Exercise SY24 strengthens the Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance through bilateral, joint training, contributing toward combined amphibious capability in defense of the Korean Peninsula. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Amelia Kang)

Readout of Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Ms. Cara Abercrombie's Travel to the Republic of Korea
September 17, 2024 — Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn, USMC, provided the following readout: Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Cara Abercrombie, returned from travel after participating in bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral meetings in the Republic of Korea (ROK)... MORE

Joint Statement of the 15th Republic of Korea-United States-Japan Defense Trilateral Talks
September 10, 2024 — Republic of Korea (ROK) Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Cho Chang-rae, U.S. Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Cara Abercrombie, and Japan Director General for Defense Policy YAMATO Taro convened the 15th Defense Trilateral Talks in Seoul on September 10, 2024... MORE

Joint Statement on the U.S.-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group Simulation
September 6, 2024 — The United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) conducted the first U.S.-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) simulation, an interagency table-top simulation, Sept. 5-6, in Washington, D.C. ROK and U.S. national security, defense, military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials participated in the simulation, which was a deliverable from President Biden and President Yoon's April 2023 Washington Declaration. ... MORE

15th MEU Marines, Sailors uphold legacy of volunteering with children at Pohang Sunrin Aeyukwon
August 22, 2024 — Marines and Sailors assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the 31st MEU, and Marine Corps Installation Camp Mujuk spent a day volunteering with local children at the Pohang Sunrin Aeyukwon Children’s Home in Pohang, South Korea, Aug. 19... MORE

Plaques placed by 1st Marine Air Wing and Seabees with Naval Construction Maintenance Unit 101 mark the original building site of the Sunrin Aeyukwon Children’s Home in Pohang, South Korea, Aug. 19, 2024.

Readout of U.S. – ROK Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Committee Plenary Session
August 1, 2024 — On July 30, 2024, the Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense held the 2024 U.S.-ROK Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Committee in Seoul... MORE

Japan-United States-Republic of Korea Trilateral Ministerial Joint Press Statement
July 28, 2024 — Japan Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, United States (U.S.) Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik convened a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on July 28, 2024, in Japan for the first time in history... MORE

Joint Press Release for the ROK-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting
July 28, 2024 — Minister of National Defense Shin Wonsik and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met in Tokyo to hold discussions on major issues facing the ROK-U.S. Alliance, including the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region, strengthening Alliance capabilities for deterrence and defense, and opportunities to deepen the Alliance... MORE

Readout of Senior Defense Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs Leader's Trip to Adaptive Shield Exercise, Republic of Korea and Japan
June 18, 2024 — Dr. Brandi Vann, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs visited critical allies and partners in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan from June 5-12, 2024... MORE

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Concludes Tenth Visit to the Indo-Pacific
June 5, 2024 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his tenth official visit to the Indo-Pacific region today... MORE

DOD, Coast Guard Continue Support to Maui
August 23, 2023 — Nearly 700 Defense Department personnel and 157 Coast Guardsmen are currently engaged with the U.S. Army Pacific Command and Joint Task Force 5-0 mission... MORE

A service member motions to the driver of military vehicle.