Yoon calls for combined defense posture should North conduct a Hamas-style attack

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday called on South Korea and the United States to maintain a combined defense posture to immediately punish North Korea in the case of any miscalculation and provocations, including a Hamas-style surprise attack.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, during a dinner meeting Sunday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday called on South Korea and the United States to maintain a combined defense posture to immediately punish North Korea in the case of any miscalculation and provocations, including a Hamas-style surprise attack.

Yoon made the request in a dinner meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong in Yongsan District, central Seoul, presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said in a statement.

Yoon noted that the Ukraine-Russia war and the Israel-Hamas armed conflict were "directly or indirectly linked to North Korea," Lee said.

"Even if North Korea miscalculates and commits any provocation, including a Hamas-style surprise attack, we will maintain a South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture that can immediately and resolutely punish it," Yoon was quoted as saying, referring to the militant group's attack on Israel last month.

Austin conveyed U.S. President Joe Biden's firm intent to further strengthen the robust South Korea-U.S. alliance more than ever, according to the presidential office.

He reaffirmed his firm commitment to defend South Korea by deploying the full spectrum of U.S. military capabilities.

Yoon also said that since Seoul and Washington launched the Nuclear Consultative Group in July to better deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the two sides have closely cooperated to share information, establish a consultation system and strengthen joint planning and execution capabilities. He especially noted the speed in follow-up measures, including the expansion of the deployment of U.S. strategic assets.

Austin said he hoped that cooperation in science and technology, including the space and cyber domains, would be promoted between the young generations of the two countries, the office said. Yoon expressed his hopes that such discussions would continue between the two countries and trilaterally also with Japan.

Yoon and the U.S. defense chiefs discussed other matters of international security and the situation on the Korean Peninsula ahead of the 55th Security Consultative Meeting meeting in Seoul on Monday.

Austin arrived on a three-day trip to Seoul on Sunday.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]