November 1, 1996
1. The 28th US/Republic of Korea Security Consultative Meeting
(SCM) was held in Washington, DC on 31 October and 1 November
1996. Secretary of Defense William J. Perry and ROK Minister of
National Defense Kim Dong Jin led their respective delegations,
which included senior defense and foreign affairs officials.
Prior to the SCM, the Chairmen of the respective joint Chiefs of
Staff, General John M. Shalikashvili and General Yoon Yong Nam,
presided over the 18th US/ROK Military Committee Meeting (MCM) on
October 31.
2. Secretary Perry and Minister Kim discussed the international
security situation and reviewed the strategic environment on the
Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. They reaffirmed that the
security of the Peninsula is essential to the stability and
prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, which in turn are vital to
the security of the United States and to world peace. They noted
that US forces in Korea have made and continue to make a
significant contribution to the deterrence of war on the Korean
Peninsula and to the stability of Northeast Asia. They also
agreed that the US-ROK long-term security relationship should
continue to be developed in a mutually beneficial way.
3. The two Ministers reaffirmed the fundamental principle that
the establishment of a stable, permanent peace on the Korean
Peninsula is the task of the Korean people. Both agreed that
South and North Korea should take the lead in the search for a
permanent peace arrangement, and that separate negotiations
between the United States and North Korea on peace-related issues
cannot be considered. In this light, the Minister and the
Secretary affirmed the importance of the Four Party talks
proposed by President Clinton and President Kim Young Sam on 16
April 1996 on Cheju Island, and urged North Korea to respond
positively to this proposal. Secretary Perry and Minister Kim
also shared the view that inter-Korean dialogue and cooperative
measures should resume on the basis of the "Agreement on
Reconciliation, Non-aggression, and Exchanges and Cooperation
between the South and the North" (the South-North Basic
Agreement) of 1992 and that the "Joint Declaration on the
Denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula" should be implemented. They reaffirmed that the
Military Armistice Agreement of 1953 remains valid until
superseded by a permanent peace arrangement reached through
direct talks between South and North Korea.
4. Both Ministers agreed that full implementation of the Agreed
Framework of 21 October 1994 would greatly enhance peace and
stability in the region. They called upon North Korea to ensure
full transparency of past, present, and future nuclear
activities in conformity with the Agreed Framework. They also
called upon North Korea to resume inter-Korean dialogue, a key
component of the Agreed Framework, and to come into full
compliance with its obligations under the NPT and its IAEA
safeguards agreement. The two Ministers reaffirmed that the ROK
and US would continue to work together to resolve the North
Korean nuclear issue.
5. Secretary Perry and Minister Kim expressed serious concern
that recent North Korean actions and statements had raised
political and military tensions on the Peninsula. In particular,
both Ministers shared the view that the submarine infiltration of
armed North Korean commandos was a serious violation of the
Armistice Agreement and constituted a threat to peace and
security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. The two
Ministers also agreed to firmly and jointly respond to North
Korean armed provocations, and strongly urged North Korea to take
appropriate steps to prevent recurrence of such provocations.
The two Ministers also expressed concern that North Korea's large
conventional forces, build-up of long-range firepower, and
missile program threaten ROK and US national interests and
objectives on the Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. In this
connection, they urged North Korea to enter into direct talks
with the ROK Government to reduce tensions on the Korean
Peninsula, to promote mutual confidence building, and to provide
greater transparency regarding weapons of mass destruction and
conventional military forces.
6. Both Ministers agreed that the ROK-US security alliance
remains strong and is appropriately focused on deterring renewed
hostilities on the Korean Peninsula. Secretary Perry reaffirmed
the US commitment to render prompt and effective assistance to
repel any armed attack against the ROK, in accordance with the US-
ROK Mutual Defense Treaty of 1954, and to provide a nuclear
umbrella for the ROK. Minister Kim reaffirmed that the ROK will
continue to modernize its armed forces and to assume increased
responsibility for its own defense. The two Ministers emphasized
that the combined US-ROK forces on the Peninsula are a defensive
force that needs to continue to emphasize combined readiness,
tactics, doctrine, professionalism, discipline, vigilance, and
high morale. Both Ministers shared the view that a robust
schedule of combined exercises is vital to deterring war on the
Peninsula and enhancing combined defense readiness. They also
agreed to have further consultations on the Team Spirit exercise,
taking into account various factors including the security
environment on the Peninsula.
7. Minister Kim and Secretary Perry exchanged views on the mid-
and long-term future of the security relationship, taking into
account changes in the security environment on the Korean
Peninsula, and agreed that continued strengthening of ROK-US
bilateral security cooperation would further promote stability
and peace in the region. The two Ministers were briefed on the
results of the US-ROK mid- and long-term security dialogue, held
between senior working-level defense officials of both countries
since last year. The two agreed that the security dialogue had
broadened the consensus among defense policy-makers of the two
countries on the
long-term direction of the US-ROK security relationship.
8. Minister Kim and Secretary Perry agreed that the
Subcommittees of the SCM (Policy Review; Logistics Cooperation;
Security Cooperation; and Defense Technology and Industrial
Cooperation) all contributed substantially to the success of the
28th SCM. Both Ministers agreed that US-ROK logistics, defense
industry, and technological cooperation, including joint research
and development projects, should be developed in a mutually
beneficial manner.
9. The two delegations agreed that the 28th SCM and 18th MCM
provided an excellent opportunity to further solidify the US-ROK
security relationship and address issues dealing with the current
and future security relationship. Both Ministers agreed to
maintain close consultations and to hold the next SCM at a
mutually convenient time in 1997 in Seoul.
10. Minister Kim expressed his appreciation to Secretary Perry
and the U.S. delegation for their warm welcome and gracious
hospitality, and for the excellent arrangements that made this
meeting successful.
