South Korea and member states of the United Nations Command (UNC) issued a joint statement on Tuesday vowing a united response against potential acts of aggression by the North.

The statement was issued after South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and officials from 16 countries attended the inaugural meeting of defense ministers and representatives from UNC member states at the Defense Ministry in Yongsan District, central Seoul, to examine the multinational command’s role and explore ways to deepen security cooperation.

The UNC was established at the beginning of the Korean War in July 1950 with a UN mandate to restore peace on the Peninsula after the North launched an invasion of South Korea the previous month.

Since the war, the command has been responsible for upholding the 1953 armistice that halted active hostilities.

The command was formally responsible for South Korea’s defense until that duty was passed onto the South Korea-U. S. Combined Forces Command in 1978.

In their joint statement, the UNC member states “declared that they will be united upon any renewal of hostilities or armed attack on the Korean Peninsula challenging the principles of the UN and the security of the Republic of Korea,” referring to South Korea by its official name.

They also “strongly condemned the DPRK’s unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions,” referring to the North by the acronym for its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

UNC member states’ officials also urged North Korea to “cease any unlawful behavior” and abide by UN Security Council resolutions.

While South Korea is not a member of the UNC, sources have previously told the JoongAng Ilbo that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration is reviewing the possible inclusion of a South Korean major general in the multinational command.

A senior defense official told reporters on condition of anonymity that South Korea proposed the inclusion of high-ranking officers in the UNC staff and expanding the number of member states in the command during the meeting.

“We are holding consultations for positions to ensure the South Korean military can play a leading role [in the UNC], rather than simply participating,” the official said. “We are considering sending general-grade officers if possible.”

According to the statement, South Korea has also agreed to deepen cooperation with the UNC and share joint training and exercises with the United States with member states.

In a message delivered by Deputy Minister for Defense Policy Heo Tae-keun, President Yoon Suk Yeol praised the UNC’s role in maintaining the armistice and promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

“Against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and continued provocations, I believe today’s meeting will serve as a starting point for bolstering cooperation and solidarity among partner nations that share common values,” Yoon said.

Approximately 1.98 million personnel from 22 countries were deployed to South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War to help defend the country.

Over 40,000 UNC personnel died, while 3,950 remain missing, according to the South Korean Veterans Ministry.

Current UNC member states are the United States, Britain, Canada, Turkey, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Greece, New Zealand, Belgium, France, South Africa, Norway, Denmark and Italy.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]