U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter is visiting South Korea today, following a three day, two night stay in Japan. He is scheduled to have a talk with his South Korean counterpart Han Min-koo at the South Korean defense department in Yongsan, Seoul, and give a tribute to the sacrificed soldiers of the sunk South Korean warship, Cheonan, at the US navy’s 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do.

The agenda of the talk includes strengthening joint deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats; follow-up management of the handover of wartime operational control to Seoul based on the conditions which were agreed upon at last year’s Security Consultative Meeting (SCM); and writing a new strategy document to replace the Strategic Alliance 2015 plan.

On the other hand, Mr Carter’s position on the allocation of THAAD to the Korean peninsula is attracting lots of attention. South Korea and the U.S. have been keeping a “3NO” (No Request, No Consultation, No Decision) position on the issue.

An official said that THAAD is not included in the official agenda of the talk, but it is not sure yet whether the U.S. will discuss THAAD in the talk, suggesting that it is likely to be discussed at the seventh round of the senior-level Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) meeting.

It is noteworthy that both countries’ defense secretaries are doing tributes to the soldiers of the Cheonan who gave their lives. It is the first time that the U.S. defense secretary performed a tribute at the Cheonan, which is exhibited at the 2nd command campus, due to the U.S.’s strong request, the Korean defense department explained.
  
Carter's actions will show the strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and determination to make a joint response to any threats from North Korea, a South Korean official said.

On the other hand, Carter told the Yomiuri Shimbun on April 8 that the potential benefits of cooperation with South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are more important than past tension and current politics.

Carter also said that the U.S. is aware of the historical sensitivity of South Korea-Japan relations, but the three countries should face the future, when asked to evaluate the importance of the joint response of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to a North Korean nuclear or missile attack. This seems to mean that the three countries’ cooperation is more urgent than the resolution of historical conflicts. 

He said that the enhancement of the three countries' security cooperation is the essence of U.S.’ Asia Pivot policy, in which Japan plays a key role. South Korea and Japan’s agreement upon sharing intelligence about North Korea brought the three the opportunity of security cooperation, he said. He also said that he will discuss the matter with the U.S.’s allies in Tokyo and Seoul, suggesting that his visit to Japan and Korea is aimed at the recovery of the three countries' cooperation.

The Yomiuri Shimbun pointed out that Carter’s words follow the same line as Wendy Sherman's speech, who is the Undersecretary for Political Affairs, saying that South Korea and China are also responsible for their history disputes with Japan. The newspaper also suggested that Carter may appeal for improvement of South Korea-Japan relations, which may affect the U.S.’ Asia Pivot policy, although it may be criticized.

Daniel Russel, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, positively evaluated Shinzō Abe's description of the comfort women for Japanese armies as “human trafficking,” without identifying the speaker, in an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun on April 6.

www.businesskorea.co.kr/article/10036/defense-diplomacy-us-defense-secretary-carter-visiting-south-korea-today-may-formalize