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- 49th Republic of Korea and United States Military Committee Meet... (2024.10.18)
- WASHINGTON - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., met with Chairman of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Kim Myung-Soo virtually today during the 49th Republic of Korea and United States Military Committee Meeting (MCM).
Adm. Kim and Lt. Gen. Jin Yong-Sung, Chief Director of J5 (acting), ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, represented the ROK delegation. Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, 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 ROK-U.S. CFC.
During the discussions, Gen. Brown and Adm. Kim recognized the significance of the U.S.-ROK alliance over the last 71 years. The alliance underscores the shared sacrifice and ironclad commitment of the U.S. and ROK to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The leaders recognized the importance of maintaining a robust combined defensive posture to deter additional provocations from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The two leaders expressed concerns over key regional and peninsular security challenges, including the DPRK threats across all domains, including increasing missile capabilities, nuclear threats, cyber-attacks. Adm. Kim emphasized the illegitimacy of recent ongoing act of DPRK sending trash balloons into the ROK and the DPRK’s recent declaration naming the ROK as a hostile state. Both leaders underscored that the DPRK’s provocative acts, and the DPRK’s enhance military cooperation with Russia destabilize peace and security on the Peninsula and across the globe.
Both leaders discussed the responsibilities of recently activated ROK Strategic Command (ROK STRATCOM), and the importance of closely connecting its capabilities and planning activities to the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command per the Washington Declaration of 2023. Gen. Brown reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence and the defense of the ROK.
The leaders lauded each country’s contributions in enhancing and improving trilateral cooperation to include a flight of two U.S. B-52 strategic bombers that flew with fighter aircraft from both South Korea and Japan, marking the first trilateral aerial exercise between the nations. Additionally, both leaders highly commended the inaugural execution of exercise Freedom Edge, a trilateral multi-domain exercise, which further promoted interoperability between the three nations.
Further, Gen. Brown and Adm. Kim acknowledged the meaningful progress made across the various fields in the conditions-based operational control transition plan for the ROK-U.S. Future Combined Forces Command (F-CFC).
Both leaders affirmed, in the strongest words possible, their unwavering commitment to the combined defense posture under the U.S. - ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, emphasizing their dedication to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in 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.
The 49th MCM was planned to be held in Washington D.C., however, after mutual coordination, was held virtually in light of the recent grave security developments on the Peninsula.
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- Republic of Korea-Japan-United States Trilateral Chiefs of Defen... (2024.07.18)
- ○Republic of Korea(ROK) Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Kim Myung-soo, Japan Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Gen. YOSHIDA Yoshihide, and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. convened a Trilateral Chiefs of Defense Meeting on July 18, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan.
○The Tri-CHOD leaders exchanged assessments on the regional security situation, including on the Korean Peninsula, reviewed progress made in trilateral security cooperation and information sharing, and discussed concrete ways to deepen trilateral security cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond. They also reaffirmed the importance of continuing the momentum of the new era of trilateral security cooperation advanced by the Camp David Summit in August 2023.
○The Tri-CHOD leaders stressed the importance of enhancing close trilateral coordination in response to the provocations posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). During a trilateral site visit to Yokota Air Base, they reaffirmed the progress since the Camp David Summit in August 2023 and the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting in June 2024, including the practical cooperation for a real-time trilateral missile warning data sharing mechanism to counter DPRK missiles.
○The Tri-CHOD leaders underscored their commitment to safeguarding the peace and stability of Northeast Asia. They condemned the DPRK’s continued development of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs and provocations as well as the growing military cooperation between DPRK and Russia which took place in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, including the procurement and use of DPRK’s ballistic missiles. They urged the DPRK to cease all destabilizing activities immediately. They pledged to continue coordination toward the complete denuclearization of the DPRK in accordance with relevant UNSCRs. Gen. Brown reiterated the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan and the ROK remains ironclad.
○While focusing on opportunities for enhanced trilateral security cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, the Tri-CHOD leaders exchanged views on geopolitical trends shaping the regional security environment. Recalling the publicly announced position of each of the three countries regarding the escalatory, dangerous, and aggressive behavior supporting unlawful maritime claims by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea and throughout the region, the Tri-CHOD leaders reaffirmed their enduring commitment to international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and voiced opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the waters of the Indo-Pacific.
○The Tri-CHOD leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community. There is no change in their basic positions on Taiwan, and they called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.
○The Tri-CHOD leaders recognized the progress on trilateral security cooperation since the Camp David Summit in August 2023 and the Defense Ministerial Meeting in June 2024, including the inaugural execution of exercise Freedom Edge in June 2024, a trilateral multi-domain exercise aimed at building greater interoperability among forces. Multiple ships and aircraft from ROK, Japan, and the U.S., participated in the exercise, focusing on cooperative Ballistic Missile Defense, Air Defense, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Search and Rescue, Maritime Interdiction, and Defensive Cyber training. The Tri-CHOD leaders affirmed their commitment to expanding the Freedom Edge exercise and discussed additional ways to institutionalize trilateral cooperation in support of a shared regional vision for peace, stability, and deterrence.
○Throughout the discussions, the Tri-CHOD leaders underscored that ROK-Japan-U.S. security cooperation is critical not only to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region but also to their shared global interests. They underscored the importance of working together with allies and partners to address global security challenges. The Tri-CHOD leaders pledged to remain in close consultation and continue to strengthen trilateral security cooperation to advance peace and security on the Korean peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific, and beyond. In addition, they agreed to convene the 2025 Tri-CHOD meeting in the Republic of Korea.
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- Joint Statement of the United States-Japan-Republic of Korea Tri... (2024.03.28)
- ○Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.; Chief of Staff, Japan Joint Staff, Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida; and Chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Kim Myung-soo spoke today by video teleconference.
○The chiefs of defense discussed trilateral cooperation initiatives, global security issues, and recent Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK) provocations.
○The three leaders applauded mutual efforts in achieving the trilateral initiatives on real-time missile warning data sharing mechanism, and on establishing a multi-year trilateral exercise plan based on the 2023 Camp David Summit and Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting.
○The leaders also agreed that the DPRK’s provocative actions including nuclear and missile developments reflect the importance of increasing the depth, scale, and scope of trilateral cooperation by the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
○Gen. Brown reaffirmed U.S. commitment to defending Japan and the Republic of Korea. The leaders recognized that trilateral cooperation helps ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific, and beyond.
○The leaders look forward to holding the next trilateral chiefs of defense meeting this summer.
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- The Change of Command Ceremony for 43rd and 44th CJCS (Nov 25, 2... (2023.11.27)
- ㅇ The Change of Command Ceremony for 43rd and 44th CJCS, and Farewell Ceremony in honor of GEN Kim, Seung Kyum was held in on 15:00 November 25th(SAT) at the JCS Parade Grounds. Among those in attendance were the Minister of National Defense, Commander of the ROK-U.S.Combined Forces Command, other distinguished guets, and JCS service members. Through his inaugural address, Admiral Kim, Myung Soo declared his resolve to "establish Leading Posture and Overwhelming Capabilities" to win every battle and fulfill every mission while maintaining a "Stay Vigilant, Fight Ferociously"mentality.
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- 48th ROK-US Military Committee Meeting Held in Seoul (2023. 11. ... (2023.11.13)
- On November 12(Sun), GEN. Kim, Seung-Kyum, Chairman of ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff met with Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 48th ROK US Military Committee Meeting(MCM) in the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff. This marks Gen. Brown's first visit to Korea since he took office on October 1, 2023. GEN. Kim Seung-Kyum, Chairman of the ROK JCS and Lt Gen. Jin Young-Seung, Chief Director of J5, ROK JCS, represented the ROK delegation and Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander, US INDOPACOM, joined Gen. Brown as part of the US delegation. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera, commander, United Nations Command(UNC), Combined Forces Command(CFC), United States Forces Command(USFK), represented the ROK-US CFC. During the discussions, Gen. Brown and GEN. Kim recognized the significance of the ironclad US-ROK Alliance reaching its 70th anniversary. 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 the continuous provocations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK), including missile launches and nuclear threat, and key security issues that destabilize peace and security in the region. In particular, Gen. Brown reaffirmed the US 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 US-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 US-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 US-ROK bilateral consultation process, which convenes annually or as required. The committee provides strategic directives and operational guidance to the CFC in defense of the ROK and addresses Alliance military issues. The US and the ROK have alternated hosting this meeting in Washington, D.C. and Seoul, since it first convened in 1978.