We expanded the scope and scale of our exercises.'

'We strengthened our combined readiness and training.

'Over the past year, our two countries have made great progress in deepening our cooperation,' the secretary said. military and South Korean military are extremely interoperable - to the point of having a combined division and the Combined Forces Command - Korea. These troops work with Korean forces daily, and the U.S. service members on the peninsula alongside Korean allies. The United States has put resources, military capabilities and, most important, people into the alliance. 'And over the past seven decades, we have built one of the most capable, interoperable and adaptable alliances in history.' and ROK leaders affirmed when they signed the Mutual Defense Treaty: We are stronger and safer when we work together,' Austin wrote. 'The deep cooperation between our armed forces reflects the same fundamental truth that U.S. In an op-ed piece published today by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the secretary wrote about the partnership between the two countries. defense capabilities, 'including our conventional, nuclear and missile-defense capabilities.' The secretary reiterated that the United States stands firm in its extended-deterrence commitment, which includes the full range of U.S. 'Our commitment to the defense of the ROK remains ironclad.' 'Make no mistake: The United States stands united with the, and, together, we condemn these dangerous actions, which violate international law and threaten to destabilize the region,' he said. The North Korean provocations are disturbing, and they cement the commitment the United States has to stand with its South Korean allies. The secretary noted that the United States and South Korea have worked together for 70 years 'to deter large-scale conflict, to strengthen our combined capabilities, and to defend the rules-based international order that keeps us all secure.' He also discussed ways the two nations - acting together - can enhance stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The secretary is in South Korea to discuss the state of the alliance in wake of unprecedented provocations from North Korea. The secretary made the remarks at a news conference following a meeting with Defense Minister Lee Jung-Sup.

Picture stands for peace