South Korean Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik met with a US House of Representatives delegation at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore. During the closed-door meeting, Shin acknowledged the bipartisan support from the US Congress for its role in protecting the US troop presence in South Korea. He specifically credited the US Congress for maintaining the current level of American troops in South Korea through the National Defense Authorization Act. The Congressional delegation recognized the importance of the alliance between the two countries for peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and beyond. They pledged unwavering support for the bilateral alliance in response to emerging threats in the region, including those from North Korea. Additionally, Minister Shin emphasized the significance of strengthening the South Korea-US alliance as the best deterrent against North Korean nuclear threats, particularly in light of discussions about the potential withdrawal of US troops from South Korea and the implications for South Korea's defense strategy.