美防長稱保衛韓國的承諾“堅如磐石”

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis reassured South Korea on Thursday that U.S. commitment to its security "remains ironclad."

The comments came as Mattis met with the South Korean Defense Minister in Seoul while negotiators from both countries continue toward the goal of a denuclearized North Korea.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the suspension of military exercises with South Korea after he held a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea had long called for the drills to stop amid fears they were aimed at planning an invasion, which the U.S. and South Korean militaries denied.

Trump's move raised concerns among U.S. allies in the region about the continuing security assistance the United States would provide.

Mattis said Thursday halting the exercises creates a better chance for peace on the Korean peninsula. But he said the number of U.S. troops stationed there will not change, and that both militaries remain "vigilant and ready to defend against any challenge."

The Pentagon chief travels on to Japan for meetings there with senior officials.

He made an earlier stop in China where he met with President Xi Jinping and raised concerns about militarization and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.美國國防部長馬蒂斯星期四再次向韓國保證，美國對保衛韓國安全的承諾“仍然堅如磐石”。

馬蒂斯在首爾與韓國國防部長會談時做出以上保證。美韓兩國官員繼續就實現朝鮮非核化進行磋商。

6月早些時候，川普總統在新加坡與朝鮮領導人金正恩會見後宣佈暫停與韓國的聯合軍演。朝鮮長期以來一直呼籲停止美韓軍演，擔心軍演的目的是入侵朝鮮。美國和韓國否認有此企圖。

川普總統的決定讓東亞地區一些美國盟友對美國的安全保護感到擔心。

馬蒂斯星期四說，暫停軍演爲朝鮮半島實現和平提供了更好的機會。他還說，美國駐韓美軍人數不變，兩國軍隊仍將保持警惕，隨時準備應對任何挑戰。

馬蒂斯訪問韓國後前往日本，與日本高級官員會談。

馬蒂斯早些時候訪問了中國，與中國國家主席習近平會見，並提到南中國海的軍事化以及自由航行的問題。