South Korea and the United States are stepping up cooperation in both defense and economic spheres, as the two countries continue to strengthen their alliance and advance bilateral investment commitments.
In the field of defense, on October 2nd, South Korea's new Defense Minister Kang Shin Chul emphasized the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance during his first visit to a U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) military base since taking office.
The South Korean Ministry of Defense stated that during a meeting with USFK Commander General Xavier Brunson at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province, Minister Kang reaffirmed the commitment to maintaining a strong joint defense posture and enhancing close coordination between South Korea and the United States. He called for maintaining a high state of readiness amid the continuing complex security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The two sides exchanged views on a number of important issues related to security and defense, including the process of transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States to South Korea.
According to a statement from USFK, Minister Kang appreciated the commitment of senior leaders from USFK, UNC, and the Combined Forces Command (CFC) to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The visit takes place amid increased coordination between South Korea and the United States in response to developments in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Last week, a landmine explosion in the DMZ injured three South Korean soldiers. The area is under the supervision of the United Nations Command (UNC), which is also commanded by General Brunson.
General Kang, a retired army general and former Deputy Commander of the CFC, assumed the position of South Korea's Defense Minister at the end of September. His visit to Camp Humphreys was his first activity at the key U.S. military base in his new role.
In the economic sphere, on the same day, October 2nd, US President Donald Trump announced an $8.4 billion enhanced oil recovery project by South Korea in the US. This is part of the first investment package from South Korea under the bilateral trade agreement signed by the two countries last year.
On the social media platform Truth Social, President Trump stated that this investment package includes the construction of a natural gas power plant in Texas and eight large-scale nuclear power plants.
He argued that the $8.4 billion enhanced oil recovery project would boost oil and gas production, thereby strengthening the U.S. energy position and global energy security. However, he did not provide further details about the project. President Trump also stated that the agreement with South Korea "is getting better and better."
Last year, South Korea and the United States reached a trade agreement under which Seoul committed to investing $350 billion in the U.S., including $150 billion in the shipbuilding industry and $200 billion in strategic investments. In return, Washington reduced tariffs on South Korean goods.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/han-quoc-va-my-tang-cuong-hop-tac-quoc-phong-thuc-day-dau-tu-song-phuong-post1139745.vnp
