South Korea spotlights self-reliant defense at Singapore security forum

South Korea's defense minister said Saturday his country would continue building independent military capabilities while deepening its alliance with the United States, speaking at the annual Asia Security Summit in Singapore.

The remarks came as South Korea and Japan agreed to resume joint naval search-and-rescue drills for the first time in nine years, signaling improving defense ties between the two U.S. allies as North Korea's military expansion and growing alignment with Russia continue to reshape regional security dynamics.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told the forum's plenary session Saturday that Seoul remains committed to both military self-sufficiency and its partnership with Washington. "The Republic of Korea will continue its efforts to strengthen self-reliant defense capabilities in tandem with enhancing the alliance (with the United States)," Ahn said, according to The Korea Times.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised South Korea in his own keynote, saying President Lee Jae Myung's decision to shoulder greater conventional defense responsibility "reflects simply a clear-eyed understanding of the threat environment." Talks on transferring wartime operational control — known as OPCON — from U.S. to South Korean command remain ongoing, with both sides working to synchronize timelines. "My understanding is that (the secretary) meant to call for working together to align our efforts and energy (to move it forward)," Ahn told reporters when asked about Hegseth's remarks.

Seoul cited North Korea's military buildup and deepening ties with Russia as a "key variable" shaping the global security landscape. South Korea is responding by building what it describes as a "smart military," integrating artificial intelligence-based systems alongside expanded drone and anti-drone defense capabilities.

On the sidelines of the three-day summit, South Korean and Japanese defense officials agreed to resume joint SAREX drills on June 7, ending a nine-year suspension that began in 2018. The two sides also discussed a potential acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, known as ACSA, which would allow mutual logistical support between their militaries.

Seoul is also pursuing a nuclear-powered submarine program, seeking U.S. Congressional support and preparing to open bilateral negotiations with Washington on both the submarine initiative and nuclear energy cooperation, The Korea Times reported.

The three-day Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's premier annual defense forum and draws defense ministers and senior security officials from across the Indo-Pacific region.