November 12, 2023
SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., met with Chairman of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Chiefs of Staff GEN. Kim Seung-Kyum at the ROK JCS Headquarters today during the 48th Republic of Korea and United States Military Committee Meeting (MCM)..
This marks Gen. Brown’s first visit to the Republic of Korea since he took office on October 1, 2023.
GEN. Kim and LtGen Jin Young-Seung, Chief Director of J5, ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, represented the ROK delegation. Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, joined Gen. Brown as part of the U.S. delegation. Gen. Paul LaCamera, Commander, United Nations Command (UNC), Combined Forces Command (CFC), and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), represented the U.S.-ROK CFC.
During the discussions, Gen. Brown and Gen. Kim recognized the significance of the ironclad U.S. - ROK alliance reaching its 70thanniversary. This important milestone underscores the shared sacrifice and commitment of the alliance in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The two leaders discussed key regional and peninsular security concerns, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) continuous provocations, including missile launches and nuclear threat, and key security issues that destabilize peace and security in the region. Gen. Brown reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence and the defense of the ROK.
Both leaders also acknowledged the meaningful progress made in the conditions-based operational control (OPCON) transition plan, to include completing this year’s annual U.S.-ROK bilateral evaluations concerning capabilities and systems.
The two leaders shared the importance of developing an ever-stronger mutual defense relationship and affirmed in the strongest words possible their commitment to the combined defense posture under the U.S. - ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. The United States and the ROK are committed to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region.
The MCM is part of the U.S. - ROK bilateral consultation process, which convenes annually or as required. The committee provides strategic direction and operational guidance to the CFC in defense of the ROK and addresses Alliance military issues. The United States and the ROK have alternated hosting this meeting in Washington, D.C. and Seoul, since it first convened in 1978.
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