By Hur SomEe and Lee Hana

Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State James Mattis on Aug. 16. They discussed maintaining the tight defense alliance between the two countries, and examined ways to strengthen military capabilities in the face of continued nuclear weapons and missile threats from North Korea.

"The U.S. will, first and foremost, carry out diplomatic and economic sanctions against North Korea with the aim of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. Whatever measures we decide to take, we will make sure to consult and closely cooperate with Minister Song," said Mattis. He also reiterated the U.S.'s commitment to defending South Korea from any attacks from Pyongyang.

"We will make the utmost effort to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance and to improve mutual cooperation," said Song. "Given the severity of the current state of affairs, it is important that our two countries maintain our allied defensive position in order to resolve the North Korean issue in a peaceful manner."

The two defense heads strongly condemned North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) blasts, and agreed that such actions pose a threat to the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula, the Asia-Pacific, the U.S. and the world at large. They also expressed concern over Pyongyang's provocative stance, in light of the recent threat to Guam, and urged the Northern regime to put an end to further provocations.

Finally, the two defense heads stressed the importance of communication between their two countries, and agreed to discuss in Washington, D.C., matters such as the THAAD missile system, revision of missile guidelines and the changeover of wartime operational control, at the end of August.

sehp91@korea.kr