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The 27th session of the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Consultative Body (KIDD), a top-level advisory group between South Korea and the U.S. defense officials, is scheduled to take place in Seoul from the 23rd to the 24th, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of National Defense on the 17th.

The KIDD meeting, initiated in 2011 to facilitate security discussions between the two countries, has occurred one or two times each year, rotating between South Korea and the U.S. This gathering is the first since the start of the Lee Jae-myung administration and comes after the 26th session held in May, following a period of about four months.

John Kirton, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia from the United States, will act as the main delegate. South Korea usually designates the Director General of Defense Policy as the primary representative, but since this role is currently unfilled, Acting Representative Yoon Bong-hee, who is the Policy Planning Director at the Defense Ministry, will take on the responsibility.

The Ministry mentioned that the meeting will address all unresolved alliance matters, aiming to transform the Korea-U.S. alliance into a “future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance.” As per military officials, major topics on the agenda involve coordination regarding North Korea policy, joint defense strategy, transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), regional security collaboration, defense industry partnerships such as shipbuilding MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), and cooperation in defense science and technology.

Concerns including the strategic adaptability of U.S. Forces Korea, U.S. calls for higher defense expenditures by allies, and the Lee Jae-myung administration’s declared objective of transferring command authority during its term are also anticipated to be discussed.