U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that while the U.S.-South Korea alliance remains focused on deterring North Korea, Washington is open to giving its 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea more “flexibility” to respond to wider regional threats.

Speaking in Seoul alongside South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, Hegseth noted that any changes would be carefully considered, but acknowledged the growing need to adapt to an increasingly tense Indo-Pacific security environment.

The visit included a stop at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), symbolizing continued U.S. commitment to the Korean Peninsula amid North Korea’s advancing nuclear capabilities.

Why It Matters

Hegseth’s remarks reflect Washington’s strategic shift toward a more regionally agile military posture, one that can respond not just to Pyongyang but also to challenges from China’s military expansion and potential conflicts involving Taiwan.

For Seoul, the idea of using U.S. forces for broader regional operations remains sensitive, as the alliance has traditionally been focused on North Korea. However, both nations are deepening cooperation, with new agreements for South Korea to maintain and repair U.S. naval vessels a move enhancing operational readiness in the Pacific.

The discussion also follows President Donald Trump’s approval of Seoul’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines, a move framed as strengthening a “model ally.”

United States: Seeking a more flexible Indo-Pacific presence while reaffirming deterrence against North Korea.

South Korea: Balancing alliance commitments with national control over defense and command structures.

North Korea: Continuing nuclear advancements that drive U.S.-ROK military cooperation.

China: Watching closely as U.S.-Korea defense ties potentially expand beyond the peninsula.

Regional Allies (Japan, Taiwan): Likely to benefit indirectly from expanded U.S. operational reach.

What’s Next

A joint communique is being finalized to outline future cooperation on defense costs, military investments, and operational roles.

South Korea, with 450,000 active troops, aims to eventually assume wartime operational control of combined forces a long-standing goal that aligns with its growing defense capabilities.

Officials in Seoul say they plan to launch a nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s with U.S. fuel support, while reaffirming their commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ruling out the development of nuclear weapons.

With information from Reuters.