required leveraging the full breadth of national power – including diplomacy, information, military
coordination, and economic elements. To that end, the Secretaries and Ministers decided to establish a
high-level Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) to be co-chaired by
representatives from the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of
Defense, and the Department of State, with participation from other relevant agencies. Through this
dialogue, the two sides plan to work closely on policy issues related to extended deterrence. To continue
demonstrating Alliance readiness, resolve, and determination across our governments, the officials
underscored the importance of appropriate planning and combined exercises related to a range of crisis
situations on the Korean Peninsula. The Secretaries and Ministers affirmed that preparation for the
Conditions-based Operational Control (OPCON) transition is progressing according to the “Conditionsbased OPCON Transition Plan” (COT-P). They pledged to continue implementing the COT-P faithfully in
order to ensure a stable wartime OPCON transition at a proper time.
The Secretaries and Ministers reaffirmed the Alliance commitment to deploy a Terminal High Altitude
Area Defense (THAAD) battery to U.S. Forces Korea on the Korean Peninsula as an effective and
necessary self-defense measure against North Korea’s evolving missile threats. They re-emphasized the
system would be deployed solely for the purpose of defending against North Korean missile threats and
would not impact the strategic deterrent of other nations in the region. The officials pledged to take
appropriate measures to ensure the THAAD deployment process continues to move forward without
delay, and they reiterated that the United States and the ROK remained open to constructive
engagement on THAAD’s mission on the Korean Peninsula.
The Secretaries and Ministers highlighted the importance of our longstanding, mutually beneficial
cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. To this end, they reaffirmed both countries’
commitment to strengthen strategic and future-oriented civil nuclear cooperation by actively engaging in
the U.S.-ROK High Level Bilateral Commission, a key mechanism for implementing the recently renewed
U.S.-ROK Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, which serves as a
milestone for bilateral nuclear cooperation. They welcomed the two countries’ shared commitment to and
partnership in nuclear safety and security, as well as their cooperation for the strengthening of the global
nonproliferation regime. They welcomed the success of the 4th Nuclear Security Summit held in March
2016 in Washington, D.C., and the United States expressed appreciation for ROK leadership as Chair of
the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime 2016-2017. The officials are
committed to working for the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to
realize the vision of a world without nuclear weapons.
The Secretaries and Ministers praised the inaugural meeting of the Defense Technology Strategy and
Cooperation Group (DTSCG) in July. The DTSCG enables the two sides to work together to advance
policy and strategic discussion on technology security, foreign policy, and defense technology
cooperation in support of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.
They recognized the value of the U.S.-ROK partnership’s advancement into New Frontiers of cooperation
such as cyber security, space, and global health. They reaffirmed the two countries’ mutual commitment
to increase cyber cooperation, including with respect to North Korean cyber-attacks, and highlighted
plans to enhance space cooperation to address challenges to space security. The officials recognized the
KORUS-FTA enhanced mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
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