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Joint Communiqué of the 50th

U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting

Washington, D.C., October 31, 2018

1. The 50th United States (U.S.)-Republic of Korea (ROK) Security Consultative Meeting

(SCM) was held in Washington, D.C., on October 31, 2018. U.S. Secretary of Defense

James Mattis and ROK Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeongdoo led their

sides praised the SCM’s effective handling of Alliance policy coordination over the past

half-century in full expectation that it will continue as the cornerstone venue to affirm

national commitments designed to develop the Alliance and enhance security and

prosperity in the region. To this end, both sides will hold discussions on a joint vision to

further develop Alliance defense cooperation in a mutually reinforcing and future-oriented

manner in consideration of potential changes in the security environment.

3. The Secretary and the Minister reviewed the current security environment in and around

the Korean Peninsula and the region and discussed cooperative measures between the two

nations. The Secretary and the Minister decided to strengthen coordination and

cooperation towards the common objective of complete denuclearization in a final, fully

the DPRK should fulfill its commitments in the Panmunjom Declaration on Peace,

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Prosperity and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula and the Joint Statement of President

Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit and abide by its

obligations under existing UN Security Council resolutions. They highlighted that full

implementation of all UN Security Council resolutions would continue until we are

confident about North Korea’s complete denuclearization in a final, fully verified manner.

4. The Minister highlighted various confidence building measures the ROK is undertaking

with DPRK military authorities in order to implement the Panmunjom Declaration on

Peace, Prosperity and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula and the Pyongyang Joint

cooperation between U.S. and ROK defense authorities during the process of

implementation. The Secretary and the Minister assessed that United Nations Command,

as the keeper of the Armistice, has helped successfully maintain peace and security on the

Korean Peninsula over the past 65 years. Based on the inter-Korean and U.S.-DPRK

Summit understandings, the Secretary and the Minister pledged to continue to cooperate

with the international community towards diplomatic efforts aimed at building a

permanent and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, noting that the

Northern Limit Line (NLL) has been an effective means of separating ROK and DPRK

military forces and preventing military tension to date, the Minister expressed his

expectation that the buffer zone in the West Sea, which was agreed upon during the inter-

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5. The Secretary and the Minister assessed that the U.S.-ROK Alliance is stronger than ever,

and reaffirmed the two nations’ mutual commitment to the fundamental mission of the

Alliance—to defend the ROK through a robust combined defense posture and to enhance

the mutual security of both nations under the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. The

Secretary and the Minister noted that U.S. forces in the ROK have successfully played a

critical role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula over the past 65

role in preventing armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula and promoting peace and

stability in Northeast Asia. In addition, the Secretary reemphasized the commitment to

maintain the current force level of USFK in order to defend the ROK. The Secretary

reaffirmed the continued U.S. commitment to provide extended deterrence to the ROK

using the full range of military capabilities, including U.S. nuclear, conventional, and

missile defense capabilities. The Secretary and the Minister pledged to explore jointly

measures to enhance the Alliance deterrence posture and continue to implement the

Tailored Deterrence Strategy while considering the effects of changes in the security

environment on the Peninsula and in the region.

6. The Secretary and the Minister expressed appreciation for U.S. and ROK service members

in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S.-ROK

Combined Forces Command (CFC), which has played the central role in deterring war on

the Korean Peninsula and defending the ROK since its establishment in November 7,

1978. The Secretary and the Minister reviewed preparations for the relocation of CFC

Headquarters to the Ministry of National Defense (MND) compound and pledged to work

together to ensure that the relocation further strengthens the current combined defense

system and contributes toward a stable transition to a new combined defense system

following transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). The Secretary and the

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Alliance capabilities in response to common security threats. The Minister emphasized the

ROK plans to continue to reinforce its defense capabilities through the ongoing Defense

Reform 2.0. The Secretary expressed his hope that the ROK military’s defense reform

would contribute to enhancing comprehensive Alliance capabilities. In addition, the

Secretary and the Minister pledged to continue cooperation in support of acquisition and

development of advanced military assets by the ROK military.

Minister emphasized the ROK commitment to complete expeditiously the preparations

necessary to exercise OPCON in accordance with the Conditions-based OPCON

Transition Plan (COTP), such as by acquiring critical military capabilities, in conjunction

with the ongoing defense reform. The Secretary reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to

continue to provide bridging capabilities until the ROK fully acquires an independent

evaluate jointly and continuously the necessary conditions for OPCON transition while

taking into full consideration changes in the security situation.

9. The Secretary and the Minister signed the Alliance Guiding Principles which were jointly

developed to ensure a strong combined defense posture following OPCON transition. The

current CFC structure and reaffirmed the mutual commitment that the future CFC is to

have an ROK four-star general as the Commander and a U.S. four-star general as the

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Deputy Commander. The two sides are to work toward initial operational capability (IOC)

certification of the ROK-led combined defense posture in 2019. In addition, the Secretary

and the Minister pledged to determine the specific timing of OPCON transition through

regular evaluation and review of progress at the annual SCM and MCM.

10. The Secretary and the Minister received a report on the results of the U.S.-ROK MCM

from the U.S.-ROK CFC Commander and expressed their satisfaction with the progress in

enhancing combined defense capabilities and developing relevant operational concepts,

military plans, and strategic documents.

11. The Secretary and the Minister decided to continue to strengthen cooperation in various

areas, including space and cyber, in order to ensure an effective joint response against

newly emerging threats and to bolster comprehensive Alliance response capabilities. The

Minister committed to strengthen the ROK military’s space capabilities and enhance

Alliance space cooperation and praised the timely and effective cooperation of the two

reorganization of their respective cyber commands in order to promote cyber security

cooperation in the future.

12. The Minister and the Secretary praised advances in U.S.-ROK science and technology

cooperation since the 49th SCM in 2017, highlighting expanded technology cooperation in

the domains of robotics, autonomy, and directed energy. The Secretary and the Minister

assessed that deepening and expanding science and technology cooperation contributes

greatly to defense capabilities and the interoperability of the Alliance and resolved to

continue to lean forward in identifying innovative cooperative projects to advance common

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13. The Secretary and the Minister concurred that promoting cooperation in the areas of

and technology security are important for enhancing combined defense capabilities as well

as for maintaining the Alliance’s comparative technological advantage. In this regard, they

jointly ways to manage more effectively the planning, coordination, and execution of these

14. The Secretary and the Minister pledged to continue and to enhance defense cooperation to

Secretary praised the ROK’s dedication and contribution to various global security efforts,

including the international community’s efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). The Secretary and the Minister praised the U.S.-

ROK Countering-Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Committee’s efforts to enhance

the Alliance’s combined capability to prevent WMD proliferation and mitigate WMD

threats during a crisis and resolved to continue to strengthen cooperation on this front,

including through the DoD Cooperative Threat Reduction Program.

15. The Secretary and the Minister concurred in the importance of U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral

security cooperation based on common security challenges. They committed to continue

trilateral cooperation such as high-level policy consultations, various combined exercises,

and enhanced information sharing and pledged to seek ways to expand such efforts into

multilateral regional cooperation to promote peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

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16. The Secretary and the Minister highlighted that USFK has effectively entered the

“Pyeongtaek era” following this year’s relocation of USFK and 2nd Infantry Division

(2ID) Headquarters to U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys (USAG-H) and last year’s

relocation of 8th Army Headquarters. The two sides noted that USAG-H, the largest U.S.

overseas military base, represents the strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance and serves as the

symbol of the strong resolve of the Alliance to safeguard the peace and stability of the

support of the outstanding construction of USAG-H and the smooth relocation process.

issues through regular consultations in accordance with the SOFA. The Secretary and the

Minister shared the view that ensuring sufficient and continuous training opportunities for

USFK is an essential element to maintain a strong combined defensive posture and, to this

end, noted that it is important for ROK MND and USFK to make joint efforts to manage

civilian-military relations effectively such as by strengthening accident prevention and

other measures in consideration of residents near training areas.

18. The Secretary offered his appreciation for the ROK’s contributions toward ensuring a

stable stationing environment for U.S. forces in Korea and for the ROK’s contribution

toward ensuring comprehensive security burden-sharing. The Secretary and the Minister

noted that the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) has greatly contributed to

strengthening U.S.-ROK combined defense capabilities and concurred that it is crucial to

conclude the SMA in a timely manner. The two sides committed to continue to enhance

the SMA framework by strengthening transparency in its execution, respecting the USFK

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implementation of this agreement.

the development of the bilateral defense relationship into a mutually reinforcing Alliance.

Both sides expect to hold the 51st SCM in Seoul at a mutually convenient time in 2019,

and committed to make efforts to hold the 5th U.S.-ROK Foreign and Defense Ministerial

(2+2) meeting at an early date.