The South Korean Defense Ministry and the U.S. Department of Defense will hold the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) from September 16 to 18 in Busan, where they will discuss key alliance issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control, joint defense posture, and shipbuilding cooperation.
On September 14, the Defense Ministry announced that Kim Hong-cheol, Director of Defense Policy, and George Lee Moore, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, will serve as the chief representatives for their respective sides. This meeting comes approximately four months after the 28th meeting held in Washington, D.C. in May.
The issue of potential deployment to the Strait of Hormuz may also be discussed. The government recently sent a local investigation team to the United Arab Emirates to assess operational environments and maintenance and supply conditions. Military authorities are reportedly reviewing possible forces to be deployed, including maritime patrol aircraft and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams. However, the government maintains that no decisions have been made regarding deployment.
The transfer of wartime operational control will also be an official agenda item. The Defense Ministry plans to reach an agreement on the target year for the transfer during the upcoming Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in November, and discussions related to this will take place at the KIDD meeting.
This is the first time KIDD will be held outside of Seoul and Washington, D.C. The Defense Ministry explained that Busan was chosen to emphasize the commitment to shipbuilding cooperation and the capabilities of the South Korean shipbuilding industry. U.S. participants are also expected to visit domestic shipyards during their stay.
On September 14, the Defense Ministry announced that Kim Hong-cheol, Director of Defense Policy, and George Lee Moore, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, will serve as the chief representatives for their respective sides. This meeting comes approximately four months after the 28th meeting held in Washington, D.C. in May.
The issue of potential deployment to the Strait of Hormuz may also be discussed. The government recently sent a local investigation team to the United Arab Emirates to assess operational environments and maintenance and supply conditions. Military authorities are reportedly reviewing possible forces to be deployed, including maritime patrol aircraft and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams. However, the government maintains that no decisions have been made regarding deployment.
The transfer of wartime operational control will also be an official agenda item. The Defense Ministry plans to reach an agreement on the target year for the transfer during the upcoming Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in November, and discussions related to this will take place at the KIDD meeting.
This is the first time KIDD will be held outside of Seoul and Washington, D.C. The Defense Ministry explained that Busan was chosen to emphasize the commitment to shipbuilding cooperation and the capabilities of the South Korean shipbuilding industry. U.S. participants are also expected to visit domestic shipyards during their stay.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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