Meeting on sidelines of 13th ADMM Plus

Defense Ministry releases photos of the encounter

South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul meets with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Cebu, the Philippines, on Wednesday. [Ministry of National Defense]
South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul meets with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Cebu, the Philippines, on Wednesday. [Ministry of National Defense]

South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul held his first bilateral talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday since taking office.

It was the first time Kang and Hegseth had met in person, with attention focused on whether the two sides coordinated on key alliance security issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control.

The Defense Ministry released photos Wednesday showing the two ministers shaking hands during their meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, where both are attending the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus).

Seoul has been pursuing a plan to complete the full operational capability verification of the future Combined Forces Command through this year's Security Consultative Meeting and determine a target year for the operational control transfer.

However, differences between Seoul and Washington over the timing and pace of the transfer have delayed the SCM. There is growing speculation that the meeting, typically held in November, may not take place this year.

Against that backdrop, with working-level military consultations — including the Permanent Military Committee and the Military Committee Meeting — also being pushed back, the two ministers are believed to have exchanged views in a top-down manner on the operational control transfer and the SCM schedule.

Before departing for the Philippines, Kang said the two sides would "basically discuss alliance matters" and that the operational control transfer "will naturally come up." He added that he would "consult closely" with Hegseth, directly acknowledging the likelihood that the transfer would be on the agenda.


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