South Korea and the United States have agreed to strengthen cooperation so the two allies can swiftly meet the necessary conditions for the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul. 

Following a meeting between Defense Minister Song Young-moo and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis in Seoul on Thursday, the allies issued a joint press statement, saying the two ministers noted considerable progress on the issue. 

It also said the ministers, while considering changes in the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, will strengthen cooperation to ensure conditions for the transfer can be met at an early date. 

Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Song and Mattis also discussed recent measures to ease military tensions and build trust, including the alliance’s decision to suspend some joint exercises, including the Ulchi Freedom Guardian scheduled for August. 

The ministry said Song and Mattis agreed to continuously take measures for mutual trust-building and peace-building as long as the North maintains “goodwill dialogue.” 

They also reaffirmed their joint stance that the UN Security Council’s sanctions on the North will continue until the regime takes concrete and irreversible measures toward denuclearization.

[Photo : YONHAP News]