On April 30, Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan met with Republic of Korea (ROK) Acting President Han Duck-soo and Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Yang Yong-mo to reinforce the ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance and President Trump’s agenda that achieves Peace through Strength. 

Acting President Han outlined several strategic areas in which the two treaty allies could deepen defense cooperation to strengthen the security posture along the Korean Peninsula, including expanding the U.S.-ROK relationship in high-end technology and shipbuilding. He also recognized growing regional threats, to include increased aggression by the People’s Republic of China. 

Secretary Phelan affirmed the U.S. Navy’s unyielding commitment to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and need for close coordination in times of peace and crisis. Secretary Phelan highlighted the importance of U.S.-Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation, and the strength unification demonstrates to adversaries when standing together. 

Secretary Phelan further discussed shipbuilding as a top priority with a recognition of Korean shipyards, HD Hyundai and Hanwha, as industry experts, and encouraged additional investment in U.S. domestic shipyards. 

Secretary Phelan is the first Trump Administration official to visit the Republic of Korea in President Trump’s second term to engage this critical Treaty Ally.