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South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul speaks at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in the Philippines on Oct. 29. / Yonhap News Agency

South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had dismissed reports of tensions in the South Korea-U.S. alliance as "fake news."

Kang made the remarks on Oct. 30 while arriving at the Ministry of National Defense headquarters after returning from the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in the Philippines.

Asked by a reporter whether there had truly been no disagreements between South Korea and the United States, Kang replied, "There were no disagreements."

"In fact, Secretary Hegseth had just one thing to say about all the reports circulating: 'Fake news.' I agree with him," Kang said.

Kang explained that Hegseth had made the remark during their approximately 40-minute meeting on Oct. 28 on the sidelines of ADMM-Plus.

Asked whether the U.S. side had also agreed to complete the Full Operational Capability (FOC) verification of the Future Combined Forces Command at the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) early next year, with a view to setting a target year for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), Kang did not give a direct answer.

"The biggest achievement was that we agreed to work together on the transfer of wartime operational control," he said.

"This was a good meeting that allowed us to reaffirm the strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," Kang added.

Asked about the swift lifting of restrictions on intelligence sharing concerning North Korea between South Korea and the United States, Kang said, "On the military side, it affects only a small portion, so we do not see it as a major concern. You can consider it a matter involving other areas of intelligence."

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol