Visited the U.S. to attend the EDSCG meeting on the 16th
Nuclear Umbrella Discussion in North Korea’s Enactment of Nuclear Weapons Law
Deputy Foreign Minister: “North Korea expects wise behavior”
▲ Vice Minister of National Defense Shin Beom-cheol, who visited the U.S. to attend the High-Level Extended Deterrence Strategy Consultation Group (EDSCG) meeting between South Korea and the United States, answers questions from reporters at Dulles Airport near Washington DC on the 13th (local time). 2022.9.14 Yonhap News
Amid growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula due to concerns over North Korea’s seventh nuclear test and the enactment of nuclear weapons power, the South Korean government held a meeting of the “Korea-U.S. High-Level Extended Deterrence Strategies Council” (EDSCG) on the 16th (local time) to strengthen the US’ extended deterrence. confirm the promise ‘Extended deterrence’ is a concept in which the US provides the same level of nuclear deterrence as the mainland when South Korea is threatened by a nuclear attack from an adversary. As concerns in some parts of the country that these promises may not be properly implemented in case of emergency, attention is focused on whether this meeting will dispel them.
Deputy Defense Minister Shin Beom-cheol met with reporters at Dulles Airport near Washington DC on the 13th and said, “We will confirm the US’s commitment to strengthened extended deterrence and discuss specific measures with the US to enhance its execution.” The goal is to see if action can be taken to reassure the public and to ensure that the U.S. extended deterrence actually works.”
Also, on the same day, 1st Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyeon-dong said at Incheon International Airport on the way to visit America, “There will be a fairly in-depth discussion regarding the level of concrete participation (extended deterrence) together.” In response, we will discuss more specific and strengthened countermeasures.” “I expect North Korea to behave wisely,” he said.
The EDSCG meeting will be held at the State Department on the 16th as a follow-up measure to the agreement between the US and South Korea leaders in May. It is the first in 4 years and 8 months since January 2018 as a ‘2+2 consultative body’ between the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries. Vice Ministers Cho and Shin from South Korea, Bonnie Jenkins, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, and Colin Karl, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy, from the United States. The final result of the agreement is drawn out in a joint statement.
Correspondent Lee Gyeong-ju, Washington
By Seo Yu-mi, staff reporter
