The defense chiefs of the U.S. and South Korea agreed to expand joint military drills and resume a bilateral military working group at an early date during their meeting in Washington on Friday, as the allies seek to bolster deterrence against North Korean threats.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup agreed to hold a meeting of the high-level Extended Deterrence Strategy Consultative Group (EDSCG) “in the near future to improve the deterrence of the alliance and strengthen strategic communication between the ROK and the U.S.,” Seoul’s defense ministry said in a statement.