Hegseth calls talk of shaky Korea-US alliance 'fake news:' Seoul's defense minister
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brushed off concerns over a perceived growing rift in the Korea-U.S. alliance as "fake news," Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Friday after a bilateral meeting with his U.S. counterpart earlier this week. Kang said the secretary made the comment when the minister brought up Korean media reports citing alliance friction over key bilateral issues, including…
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed worries about potential strain in the Korea-U.S. alliance as "fake news," according to Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, who shared the comment after a bilateral meeting with the U.S. counterpart earlier in the week. Kang brought up reports from Korean media highlighting alliance issues, particularly a perceived gap in advancing the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition from Washington to Seoul.
Secretary Hegseth's response to such stories was succinct: "Fake news," a sentiment Kang echoed upon his return to Seoul after a three-day trip to the Philippines. When asked if any disagreements surfaced during his meeting with Hegseth, Kang emphasized that such claims are untenable and should not undermine the "rock-solid foundation" of the Korea-U.S. alliance.
The two leaders engaged in a 40-minute conversation on the sidelines of a regional defense ministers meeting in Cebu, marking Kang's first face-to-face discussion with the U.S. secretary.
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