Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
South Korean minister says Hegseth called alliance tension reports fake news
South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports of tensions between their countries “fake news.”
The comments followed a meeting between the two ministers in Cebu, Philippines, on October 28.
Kang said they discussed reports of disagreements over security issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control.
Kang said there were no disagreements between the allies and that the meeting reaffirmed the strength of their alliance.
He said the two sides agreed to work together on the transfer of wartime operational control.
Kang did not directly answer whether they agreed to complete a military readiness assessment by early next year to set a target year for the transfer.
South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports of a rift in the alliance fake news.
Kang said he agreed with Hegseth and that such reports could not undermine the alliance.
The two ministers met for about 40 minutes on Oct. 28 in Cebu, the Philippines.
Kang said the countries agreed to work together on the transfer of wartime operational control.
- Who
- South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- What
- Kang said Hegseth called reports of a rift in the South Korea-US alliance fake news.
- When
- Kang made the statement on Oct. 30; the ministers met on Oct. 28.
- Where
- The meeting was in Cebu, the Philippines. Kang spoke to reporters at the Defense Ministry in South Korea after returning.
- Why
- Kang said the meeting addressed reports of strain in the alliance and reaffirmed its strength.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kang and Hegseth held a separate meeting for about 40 minutes in Cebu, the Philippines.
After returning to South Korea, Kang told reporters Hegseth had called reports of an alliance rift fake news.
- Meeting
- About 40 minutes
- Meeting date
- Oct. 28, 2026
- Meeting location
- Cebu, the Philippines
- Kang's statement
- Oct. 30, 2026
- Ministers
- Kang Shin-chul and Pete Hegseth
What people are saying
I agree with that
Those things cannot undermine the strength of the South Korea-US alliance, and they should not.
The biggest achievement was that we agreed to work together on the transfer of wartime operational control.
This was a good meeting that allowed us to reaffirm the strength of the South Korea-US alliance.