John Noh, nominated as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, stated on the 7th (local time) that "South Korea should primarily focus on the ROK-US alliance's conventional deterrence against North Korea, but many capabilities can also contribute to deterring China."

In his written responses submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee prior to his confirmation hearing, Noh stated, "Capabilities such as the ROK military's long-range fires, integrated air and missile defense, space operations, and electronic warfare can provide a meaningful impact in strengthening regional deterrence against both threats (China and North Korea)."

This is interpreted as an emphasis on the need for both the US forces in the region and the ROK military to play a role if China's military threat materializes, amidst ongoing discussions on modernizing the ROK-US alliance.

Noh said, "China's activities in the West Sea appear to be aimed at threatening South Korea. If confirmed, I will work with my colleagues in the US government and our ROK counterparts to review these activities and propose appropriate responses."

Noh stated, "Our defense and security priorities in the Indo-Pacific region must remain centered on deterring China, which continues to be the most serious military threat."

He added, "We must concentrate our efforts on forward-deploying combat-credible forces west of the International Date Line in the Pacific, modernizing our military posture across the region, and strengthening key capabilities such as integrated air and missile defense and advanced strike systems."

He emphasized, "We must cooperate with allies and partners across the region, including Japan, Australia, and South Korea, to strengthen their defense capabilities, while also urging them to significantly increase their own defense investments and take greater responsibility for regional security."

Regarding the role and scale of US Forces Korea (USFK), Noh stated, "USFK is postured and deployed to advance US interests in the region. I will work with the ROK government to ensure our posture is appropriately focused on the current security environment."

He further responded, "The global posture of US forces is continuously re-evaluated to ensure the United States is optimally positioned in times of crisis and that our allies and partners invest appropriately in their own security. I will consult with INDOPACOM on adjusting the US forces' posture on the Korean Peninsula in consideration of the current regional security environment."

He stated, "I will work closely with senior leadership and military commanders in the Department of Defense to ensure that US forces personnel on the Korean Peninsula are appropriately adjusted for threats in all regions."

During the Q&A session, Noh also strongly supported President Trump's remarks that Taiwan should increase its defense spending to 10% of its GDP, stating, "I strongly believe that Taiwan must do its part and increase its defense spending."

Noh, of Korean descent, was nominated by President Donald Trump in June for the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, who is responsible for security policy and strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, oversees countries including North and South Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and India.

A graduate of Stanford Law School, he has served as a lawyer and federal prosecutor, and as a US Army officer, he led an infantry platoon in Afghanistan. Prior to his work at the Department of Defense, he worked for the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.

President Donald Trump has nominated John Noh, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, of Korean descent, to the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific security policy at the Pentagon. Yonhap News. 

Yonhap News