Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, delivers a
keynote address at the 2025 second ROK-U.S. Combined Policy Forum at Royal Park Convention in Seoul on Monday. Photo by Hyojoon Jeon/UPI
SEOUL Dec. 31 (UPI) — Against a backdrop of North Korea’s accelerating nuclear program and a fracturing geopolitical landscape, senior military officials and lawmakers from the United States and South Korea gathered in Seoul earlier this week to seek a fundamental redesign of their decades-old military partnership.
The second annual ROK-U.S. Combined Policy Forum, held at the Royal Park Convention, arrived at what participants described as a historical inflection point. As the security environment shifts from traditional border defense to a complex web of regional threats, the discussion centered on transitioning the alliance into a modern, multi-domain force.
“Korea is not simply responding to threats on the peninsula,” Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, said in a keynote address.
He characterized the current era as a “pivotal moment” and stressed that alliance modernization “should be more than a slogan.”
Brunson noted that South Korea now sits at the crossroads of regional dynamics that shape the balance of power across Northeast Asia.
The forum, attended by influential figures including Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, reflected a growing urgency to adapt. While the alliance remains anchored by 28,500 U.S. troops, the conversation shifted toward two pressing themes: the expansion of South Korea’s operational role and the credibility of integrated deterrence.
A primary focus was the modernization of the command framework. Experts proposed integrating South Korean forces more deeply into the combined defense system, reflecting Seoul’s desire for a role that matches its military sophistication. This shift is seen as a response to demands for more visible burden-sharing and strategic autonomy.
The afternoon sessions turned to the reality of North Korea’s nuclear advancements. With Pyongyang officially designating the South as its “primary foe,” speakers underscored the need for closer integration of nuclear consultation mechanisms. The goal is to move beyond abstract promises toward a structural reform that addresses “multi-theater” challenges.
As the forum concluded, the underlying message was clear: While the alliance remains the bedrock of security, the status quo is no longer sufficient. Under the administration of Lee Jae Myung, the partnership is attempting to bridge the gap between a 70-year-old treaty and the high-tech, nuclear-charged reality of the 21st century.