S. Korea, U.S. affirm no daylight between sides

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States said Thursday that there will be no letup in the rotational deployment of high-profile U.S. defense assets to and around the Korean Peninsula.

The two sides affirmed the position at their vice ministerial two-plus-two Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) talks in Washington, D.C., according to the Ministry of National Defense.

The announcement came as the two Koreas are engaged in multiple rounds of bilateral dialogue ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The North plans to send hundreds of athletes, art performers and reporters to the games, which open in the South's eastern town of PyeongChang on Feb. 9.

Concern has grown over possible negative impacts on the Seoul-Washington alliance from the North's sudden peace offensive after a string of provocations and war threats.

"In today's meeting, the U.S. side reaffirmed its firm security commitment to the defense of South Korea using all categories of its military capabilities," the ministry said.

The two countries have "agreed to continue the rotational deployment of U.S. strategic assets to South Korea and nearby areas as long as North Korea's nuclear and missile threats persist," it added.

For South Korean officials and media, U.S. strategic assets usually mean aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, strategic bombers and stealth fighter jets.

The allies also agreed to consult closely on security-related issues, including inter-Korean dialogue, the ministry said.

They reaffirmed the joint goal of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue diplomatically and peacefully on the basis of unswerving deterrence against the communist nation.

The EDSCG session included Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam and Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk, as well as U.S. officials Thomas Shannon, under secretary of state for political affairs, and David Trachtenberg, deputy under secretary of defense for policy.

The two sides agreed to regularize the EDSCG meeting in summit talks last June and had a previous meeting in September.

lcd@yna.co.kr
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