The Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) held the 15th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) April 23-24, 2019 in Washington, D.C. 

The ROK Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Chung Sukhwan and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (PDASD) for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey led their respective delegations.  Key ROK and U.S. defense and foreign affairs officials also participated.

During the KIDD, the ROK and the U.S. delegations reaffirmed their shared goal of achieving the complete denuclearization of, and lasting peace on, the Korean Peninsula and pledged that our combined forces will remain ready and postured to defend the ROK while continuing to support diplomatic efforts.  Both sides also shared an understanding on the importance of enforcing UNSCRs until North Korea comes into compliance with its international obligations regarding denuclearization. 

The two sides assessed that the implementation of the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) contributed to the easing of tension and confidence-building on the Korean Peninsula. The two sides also committed to continue consultations and cooperation at all stages of the implementation process of the CMA while firmly maintaining the ROK-U.S. combined defense posture. 

The two sides reviewed the significant strides made to implement the Conditions-based OPCON Transition Plan and pledged to expedite the fulfillment of conditions required for the transition of wartime OPCON to the Future Combined Forces Command.  The ROK and the United States concurred that bolstering the ROK military’s defense capabilities is important for expediting the fulfillment of conditions.  

Both sides recognized the importance of the ROK forces’ acquisition of critical military capabilities and committed to continue joint assessments through meetings of the special Permanent Military Committee (sPMC) to ensure a successful outcome.  Both sides also committed to continue deepening cooperation in various fields, to include defense industrial cooperation, science and technology, cyber, and space.

The two sides pledged to actively engage in projects such as developing strategic documents and executing an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) certification exercise in order to guarantee a stable foundation upon which the conditions-based wartime OPCON transition may take place.

Both sides agreed that the U.S.-ROK Alliance remains the linchpin of peace and security in Northeast Asia as well as the Korean Peninsula.  Both sides assessed that the 15th KIDD reaffirmed the close bonds of the Alliance, bolstered bilateral coordination toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and strengthened U.S.-ROK combined defense posture.  The U.S. DoD and the ROK MND will hold the 16th KIDD in Seoul, Republic of Korea, at a mutually appropriate time in the second half of 2019.