US Ambassador Michelle Steel meets South Korean officials on defense and security

Newly appointed US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel has begun a series of high-level meetings with South Korean officials to discuss bilateral security and diplomatic issues. During a visit to the Ministry of National Defense, Ambassador Steel was accompanied by US Forces Korea Commander Javier Brunson. The discussions are expected to cover critical defense matters, including the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) and the impact of recent adjustments to the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) joint military exercises.

In a separate meeting, Ambassador Steel met with South Korea’s representative for North Korean nuclear issues, Jeong Yeon-du, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two officials reaffirmed a shared commitment to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. The dialogue reportedly included exchanges regarding potential US-North Korea communications and the South Korean government’s policy directions for achieving an end to hostilities.