The United States and South Korea will increase the pace and scope of joint military exercises and expand intelligence sharing in response to North Korea’s repeated and increasingly frequent missile tests.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart Lee Jong Sub pledged a tougher response to what they described as an unprecedented level of provocation from Pyongyang last year.
At a joint press conference following a meeting at the Department of National Defense in Seoul, Austin assured South Korean officials that Washington’s resolve remains strong and that the Pentagon will use “the full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including non-nuclear, nuclear, and anti-missile capabilities” to protect a longtime ally.
Austin and Lee Jong Sub also said the United States and South Korea will conduct new tabletop exercises in February, as well as additional drills and drills.
Austin said South Korea could also count on additional support in line with recent US deployments, including the deployment of F-22 and F-35 fighter jets and a visit from the USS Ronald Reagan strike group.
