The 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue, or KIDD, will take place in the southeastern port city from Wednesday through Friday, the Ministry of National Defense said.
Kim Hong-cheol, director general for defense policy at the South Korean defense ministry, and George LeMoore, the U.S. assistant secretary of war for East Asia, will represent Seoul and Washington, respectively. Their delegations will include senior defense and foreign affairs officials from both countries.
“The two sides plan to discuss a wide range of alliance security issues, including the transition of wartime operational control, combined defense posture and shipbuilding cooperation,” the ministry said.
Launched in 2011, the KIDD is a senior-level forum for regular defense and security talks between Seoul and Washington. The meeting is generally held once or twice a year, alternating between the two countries.
The upcoming session comes about four months after the 28th KIDD was held in Washington in May.
One of the most closely watched issues will be a possible South Korean military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States has continued to press allies, including South Korea, for contributions to security operations in the region since the outbreak of war with Iran earlier this year.
Seoul has stepped up its review by sending an assessment team to the United Arab Emirates to examine military facilities and operational conditions related to a possible deployment.
The government team last week reviewed potential port calls and local conditions for maintenance, logistics and operational support.
The United States is reportedly hoping South Korea could make a deployment before the U.S. midterm elections in November. Seoul, however, has maintained that no final decision has been made.
The KIDD is expected to provide a forum for the two sides to discuss more detailed questions, including the timing and size of any deployment, its mission and the composition of participating forces.
The transfer of wartime operational control, or OPCON, is another expected agenda item.
Seoul aims to reach an agreement with Washington on a target year for the OPCON transition at the annual Security Consultative Meeting, or SCM, between the two countries’ defense chiefs in November.
The Busan meeting will also mark the first time the KIDD has been held outside Seoul or Washington.
The defense ministry said Busan was chosen to highlight bilateral interest in shipbuilding cooperation and South Korea’s industrial capabilities.
U.S. officials attending the meeting are also expected to visit South Korean shipyards during their stay. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries operates a major shipyard in Ulsan, while Hanwha Ocean runs a shipyard in Geoje, both near Busan.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea and the U.S. will hold high-level defense talks in Busan from Wednesday to Friday.
- A possible South Korean deployment to the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be a key issue.
- The talks will also cover OPCON transfer, combined defense posture and shipbuilding cooperation.
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