US, South Korea to Update War Plan to Deter North Korean Threat

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin salutes with South Korea's defense minister Suh Wook during a welcoming Honor Guard Ceremony prior to the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at Defense Ministry in Seoul on Dec. 2, 2021. Ahn Young-Joon - Pool/Getty Images

The U.S.-South Korea alliance is growing “stronger than ever”, with the two allies preparing to update strategic planning guidance to deter North Korea’s military threats, the military chiefs of both countries said in a joint statement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart Suh Wook approved the new strategic planning guidance, which reflects changes to the strategic environment, in a meeting held in Seoul on Thursday.