U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister An Kyu-baek met at the Pentagon on May 11 [1] to coordinate military cooperation.
The meeting signals a broadening of the U.S.-South Korea alliance beyond the Korean Peninsula, specifically regarding planned military actions against Iran.
The officials focused their discussions on the "Epic Fury" operation, a planned U.S. military action against Iran [1]. Hegseth said the strength of alliances and the role of partner nations in supporting U.S. strategic goals are necessary. "The strength of the alliance is important," Hegseth said [1]. He said he expects partners to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States [1].
Beyond the immediate focus on Iran, the two leaders addressed the modernization of the bilateral alliance and the ongoing process of transferring wartime operational control [1]. The transfer is currently in Phase 2, known as Full Operational Capability (FOC) [1]. This process involves shifting the authority to direct military operations during wartime from the U.S. to South Korean forces.
Minister An Kyu-baek highlighted the stability provided by the partnership during periods of geopolitical volatility. "The US-South Korea alliance has been a consistently reliable foundation even in difficult times," An said [1].
The meeting took place at the U.S. Department of Defense building near Washington, D.C. [1]. The discussions aimed to reinforce the strength of the security bond, while coordinating the logistics and strategic alignment required for the "Epic Fury" operation [1].
“"The strength of the alliance is important"”
The inclusion of South Korea in discussions regarding 'Epic Fury' suggests a shift toward a more globalized security partnership. By aligning Seoul with U.S. operations against Iran, Washington is seeking to leverage its East Asian allies to project power and maintain strategic pressure in the Middle East, while simultaneously managing the technical transition of wartime operational control in Korea.
