S Korea, U.S. vow to strengthen comprehensive strategic alliance

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the United States on Thursday pledged to strengthen their comprehensive strategic Alliance of bilateral, regional and global scope, based on common values and mutual trust.

The two sides made the commitment in the 41st Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) between the two nations held here Thursday, which brought South Korean Minister of National Defense Kim Tae-young and his U.S. counterpart Robert M. Gates.

According to a joint communique reached at the end of the meeting, the two sides reiterated that South Korea and the United States will not accept the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a nuclear weapon state.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the DPRK's recent military moves such as missile and nuclear tests in April and May this year and recent short-range missiles launches.

The two officials reaffirmed these acts clearly violate UN Security Council resolutions and Six-Party Talks agreements, undermine the global non-proliferation regime and constitute direct and grave threats to peace and stability not only for South Korea and regional neighbors, but also the entire international community, according to the joint communique.

The two sides agreed to closely cooperate on the full and faithful implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874, and to continue joint efforts to achieve the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the DPRK in a peaceful manner through the Six-Party Talks.

The two also agreed to further strengthen defense cooperation between the two nations, and reaffirmed that the South Korea-U.S. alliance has an important role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.