South Korea and the United States convened the 27th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Seoul on September 23-24, focusing on ways to modernize the alliance and align defense cooperation with shifting regional security dynamics.
The Republic of Korea delegation was led by Acting Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Major General Yoon Bong-hee. The U.S. side was led by John Noh, identified in the South Korean readout as the deputy assistant secretary for East Asia, with senior defense and foreign affairs officials from both countries also participating.
According to the South Korean statement, the two sides reviewed overall defense cooperation, held in-depth discussions on alliance matters, and agreed to pursue cooperation to implement follow-up defense measures stemming from the August leaders’ summit. Officials characterized the talks as laying groundwork for stronger shared understanding and a deeper alliance, with a commitment to continued cooperation.
The KIDD is a recurring, working-level policy forum that underpins alliance planning and deterrence posture. It typically addresses combined readiness, extended deterrence, capability development, and coordination on regional contingencies. This week’s session took place against a backdrop of continued tensions on the Korean Peninsula and broader strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
