Overview
- The two defense chiefs, who met Monday at the Pentagon, issued a joint readout committing to close contact and cooperation on wartime command transfer and alliance modernization.
- A gap remains on timing for the shift of wartime operational control of South Korean forces, with Seoul eyeing 2028 and the U.S. Forces Korea commander pointing to conditions being met by early 2029.
- Ahn Gyu-back said negotiations on nuclear-powered submarines could begin soon and he plans meetings with Senate defense leaders and the acting Navy secretary to seek support on fuel and shipbuilding needs.
- South Korea’s probe found two unidentified flying objects struck the HMM Namu on May 4 near the Strait of Hormuz, and Seoul is reviewing a U.S.-led maritime security initiative as Washington presses allies to contribute more.
- Working-level follow-up is expected at the Korea–U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue later this week in Washington, as the Pentagon stresses greater burden sharing, meaning Seoul taking on more costs and responsibilities for shared defense.