Media: US, South Korea to revamp military pact in high-stakes August talks

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump are set to hold a summit at the end of August, where they are expected to discuss a comprehensive modernisation of the bilateral military alliance.

The development was reported by KBS, citing a diplomatic source directly involved in the preparations for the upcoming meeting.

The source indicated that the summit agenda will include a broad range of bilateral issues, such as revisions to the existing tariff agreement and shared security concerns. However, the primary focus of the talks is anticipated to be a substantial update of the military alliance — a move that could carry significant implications not only for Seoul-Washington relations but also for the broader security dynamics of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

Among the key topics to be discussed are potential changes to the scope and role of the US military presence on the Korean Peninsula, a planned increase in South Korea’s defence budget, and Seoul’s evolving role in countering threats from North Korea. The leaders will also revisit the long-standing issue of transferring wartime operational control of South Korean forces from the US to Seoul, the source said.

Ahead of the summit, South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-bak and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hagseth held a telephone conversation in late July to review the regional security landscape and reaffirm mutual defence commitments.

According to a joint statement, the two ministers underscored the strength of the South Korea–US alliance and pledged to deepen defence cooperation.

Minister Ahn expressed confidence that close collaboration would help transform the current military partnership into what he described as a "future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance." Secretary Hagseth, in turn, reiterated Washington’s “unwavering commitment” to the defence of South Korea.

Both sides also agreed to maintain close coordination in response to North Korean threats and to bolster efforts in the area of extended deterrence. Additionally, they committed to expanding cooperation in strategic sectors such as shipbuilding, advanced scientific research, and cutting-edge technology.

By Tamilla Hasanova