US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin hold a press conference in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the State Department in Washington, DC, on Feb 3, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

WASHINGTON - South Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin said after meeting US top diplomat Antony Blinken on Friday that Seoul and Washington were committed to strengthening "extended deterrence".

South Korea has sought assurances over extended deterrence, referring to the ability of the US military to deter attacks on US allies, amid security concerns on the Korean peninsula.

Park and Blinken's meeting followed a visit to Seoul this week by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who vowed to expand military drills and boost nuclear deterrence planning

"The ROK (Republic of Korea) and the US will continue our watertight coordination to achieve genuine peace on the Korean Peninsula," Park said during a joint news conference following the meeting at the State Department in Washington.

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"We are committed to strengthening extended deterrence while maintaining a robust combined defense posture."

Park and Blinken's meeting followed a visit to Seoul this week by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who vowed to expand military drills and boost nuclear deterrence planning.

Major car producer South Korea has sought talks with the United States over the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which excludes electric vehicles assembled outside of North America from tax credits in the United States.

"We will also work together to ensure that the Inflation Reduction Act is implemented in ways that address Korean companies' concerns and benefit both our businesses and industries," Park said.

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Park said Seoul would also explore the potential for cooperation with Washington under the CHIPS and Science Act, a law designed to boost US semiconductor production and research.