South Korea & US to Deepen Defense Partnership, Focus on Shipbuilding & Counterintelligence Reform
SEOUL - October 14, 2025 – South Korea’s Defense Ministry announced plans Monday to significantly expand its defense cooperation with the United States, focusing on naval shipbuilding and internal agency reform. The move aims to modernize the 70-year security alliance in response to a more challenging geopolitical landscape.
Key elements of the plan include:
* Expanded Maritime Partnership: Seoul seeks to move beyond routine maintenance contracts with the US Navy to co-construct auxiliary and support vessels in Korean shipyards, with the potential to eventually build combat ships.
* counterintelligence Reform: The Defense Counterintelligence Command will undergo a major overhaul, narrowing its focus to counterintelligence and redistributing other functions to address concerns about excessive power. A special advisory committee will finalize details by year-end.
* Deterrence Focus: Despite broader US strategic concerns in the Indo-Pacific,South Korea maintains that the primary goal of US Forces Korea (USFK) modernization is to deter North Korean aggression. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back emphasized this, distancing himself from recent US statements characterizing both North Korea and China as “basic threats.”
* Enhanced Surveillance & Readiness: Seoul and Washington will increase joint surveillance and preparedness across all domains – land, sea, and air - to counter potential provocations, including missile launches and possible nuclear tests from North Korea, while working to prevent accidental clashes.
* Technological advancement: the initiative aligns with broader efforts to deepen cooperation in critical technologies, including shipbuilding, critical minerals, and energy.
Defense Minister Ahn vowed to build a military that is accountable to the public and equipped with advanced technologies to counter North Korea’s growing arsenal.The plan underscores south Korea’s commitment to a robust,multi-domain defense posture prioritizing rapid detection and calibrated responses to North Korean actions,with civilian safety as a top priority.
