The United States and South Korea held the 205th Joint Committee Meeting of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) on December 12 at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. Hong Ji-pyo, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and David R. Iverson, Deputy Commander of US Forces Korea, represented the South Korean and US sides respectively.
During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the cooperative relationship that has continued for over 70 years and recognized the importance of the role of the US-South Korea SOFA as a force enabler. They agreed to support the US-South Korea alliance in developing into a future-oriented and comprehensive strategic alliance amidst changes in the regional security environment.
The 205th Joint Committee confirmed the active communication between the two sides over the past 24 months on various alliance issues, including civil-military relations, environmental management, immigration, and the protection of US military facilities. Both sides agreed to expedite SOFA channel consultations on the relocation and return of US military bases in South Korea in accordance with the US-South Korea SOFA and related agreements.
Finally, the joint chairpersons emphasized that the US-South Korea SOFA is a core element of the US-South Korea alliance and agreed to continue close consultations on SOFA-related issues.