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hegseth

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Hegseth says Washington must 'balance' USFK views in wider discussions on Opcon transfer

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that Washington must “find the balance” of where American soldiers could be respected for their service in the process of transferring wartime operational control (Opcon) from Washington to Seoul.

2026.6.1

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reacts during the question and answer portion of a plenary session of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on May 30. Defense ministers and officials from 44 countries are gathered in the city-state for the IISS Shangri-la Dialogue, an annual high level defense summit in the Asia Pacific region. [EPA/YONHAP]

Hegseth calls Lee's push for early Opcon transfer a 'breath of fresh air'

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday voiced strong support for the Lee Jae Myung administration's push for an early transfer of wartime operational control (Opcon), indicating that he viewed the move as encouraging.

2026.5.30

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine, Under Secretary of Defense, Jules Hurst III, before the House Armed Services Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on April 29. [EPA/YONHAP]

Hegseth calls North Korea's nuclear program 'lesson' as he defends Iran operation

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday described North Korea's menacing nuclear program as a "lesson" to learn, as he defended the U.S. military operation against Iran, which a Pentagon official said has cost an estimated $25 billion.

2026.4.30

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon, March 4, in Washington. [AP/YONHAP]

Pentagon chief says 'America is winning,' reports sinking of Iranian warship with torpedo

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Wednesday that "America is winning" in an ongoing military operation against Iran, as he announced a U.S. submarine sunk an Iranian warship with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean the previous day.

2026.3.5

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, left, welcomes Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to the Pentagon, on Jan. 15 in Washington. [AP/YONHAP]

Hegseth stresses 'realistic' U.S.-Japan training across first island chain amid Beijing-Tokyo tensions

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday underscored the need to strengthen U.S. and Japanese forces through "realistic" training in the Asian nation across the first island chain.

2026.1.16

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during the Reagan National Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on Dec. 6. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Hegseth says 'special favor' for 'model allies' like Korea, consequences for those failing to do their part

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that "model allies" like South Korea that step up for their own defense will get a "special favor" from Washington, while warning of "consequences" for those that fail to do so.

2025.12.7

Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, right, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shake hands during the 57th Security Consultative Meeting held at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Nov. 4. [NEWS1]

U.S. defense minister backs Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered subs

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed full support for Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines during a joint press conference on Tuesday.

2025.11.4

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivers his speech during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on May 31, 2025. [AP/YONHAP]

Hegseth unveils project enabling Korea, other allies to repair P-8 maritime aircraft in Indo-Pacific

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday announced a set of defense cooperation projects, including one that will enable Korea to repair P-8 maritime patrol aircraft in the Indo-Pacific rather than relying on repair in the U.S. mainland.

2025.5.31

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump meets with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on April 24. [AP/YONHAP]

USFK's status, role in limbo as Pentagon moves to slash four-star generals

The U.S. Department of Defense’s plan to reduce the number of four-star generals by 20 percent could impact the status of the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

2025.5.7

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responds to questions from reporters during a meeting with Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey at the Pentagon, March 6, in Washington. [AP/YONHAP]

Pentagon official stresses 'clear,' 'ironclad' commitment to alliance after South Korea's exclusion from Hegseth's upcoming Asia swing

The Pentagon on Friday reaffirmed America's "ironclad" commitment to the South Korea-U.S. alliance after Seoul was excluded from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's upcoming trip to the Indo-Pacific.

2025.3.16