2023-12-16 00:45:00
The ROK-US Navy conducted joint maritime exercises in the East Sea last September. /provided by Navy
Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of the National Security Office, announced on the 15th (local time) that South Korea and the United States have decided to complete guidelines on nuclear strategic planning and operation within next year. He also explained that in the event of a nuclear crisis, a system will be established where the leaders of South Korea and the United States can immediately communicate over the phone, and that in next year’s joint military exercises between Korea and the United States, both sides will participate in training including nuclear operation scenarios.
South Korea and the United States agreed on these matters at the second Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting held in Washington, D.C. on this day and then issued a separate joint press statement.
In a statement, the U.S. side said, “We reaffirm our firm commitment to extended deterrence once morest the Republic of Korea, backed by all categories of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear weapons,” and added, “Any nuclear attack by North Korea once morest the United States and its allies is unacceptable, and the Kim regime’s “It will result in the end,” he said. He also reiterated that “any nuclear attack by North Korea once morest South Korea will be met with an immediate, overwhelming, and decisive response.”
◊To create comprehensive guidelines for deterring and responding to North Korean nuclear weapons
Deputy Director Kim met with Washington correspondents following the 2nd ROK-US Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) held in Washington DC on this day and said, “We agreed to continue discussing guidelines on nuclear strategic planning and operation and complete them by the middle of next year.” “It is a comprehensive guideline on how to deter and respond to North Korea’s nuclear threat,” he said.
Regarding the contents to be reflected in these guidelines, Deputy Director Kim said, “How will the two countries share sensitive information related to nuclear weapons, how will a security system be established, what will be the consultation procedures and systems in case of a nuclear crisis, and how will the security infrastructure between the leaders of the two countries be established?” “It will be comprehensively described, including issues such as whether to establish and operate a real-time communication channel,” he said. He continued, “It will also contain a detailed plan on how to manage the crisis and reduce the risk in the event of a North Korean nuclear threat.”
In relation to this, South Korea and the United States released a joint NCG press statement on this day, saying, “Both sides agree on guidelines, security and information sharing procedures, crisis and wartime nuclear consultation procedures, nuclear and strategic planning, ROK-US nuclear and conventional integration (CNI), strategic messages, It was assessed that nuclear deterrence cooperation between Korea and the United States is deepening as NCG tasks, including exercises, simulations, training, investment activities, and risk reduction measures, have made progress through frequent NCG working meetings since the first NCG meeting in July.” and announced.
Specific details, such as when the guidelines will be completed or whether nuclear operation scenarios will be included in joint ROK-US training, were not specified in the joint press statement. However, with the expression, “NCG representatives approved the NCG mission plan for the first half of 2024 and key future events, and emphasized their commitment to achieve substantive progress in a rapid manner,” and “NCG representatives expressed their support for progress on NCG’s tasks and other efforts.” It included the following: “We will report to the presidents of both countries respectively.”
◊In-depth nuclear education for Korean officials… “Nuclear IQ can be increased”
In this joint press statement, “NCG representatives highly praised the fact that an intensive nuclear deterrence training course was held last November for officials from all government ministries in Korea and that cooperation between all ministries of the two countries is substantially taking place through NCG.” was also included.
In relation to this, Deputy Director Kim said, “The United States has decided to operate an in-depth nuclear education program for our side next year as well,” adding, “If this happens, the nuclear-related knowledge and practical skills of those in charge of our nuclear policy will be cultivated.” “Simply put, our side’s ‘nuclear IQ’ can continue to increase,” he added.
The joint press statement also included the expression, “We also discussed future plans to deploy U.S. strategic assets to strengthen deterrence.” NCG representatives visited U.S. strategic assets to strengthen the ability to execute extended deterrence, including a visit to Busan Port by the U.S. strategic nuclear submarine USS Kentucky in July, a flight and landing of a B-52 strategic bomber over the Korean Peninsula in October, and joint observation of a U.S. ICBM test launch in November. It is said that regular visibility improvement was also inspected.
◊ Consultative body launched by the ‘Washington Declaration’, 3rd meeting to be held in Korea next year
The ROK-US Nuclear Consultative Group is a bilateral consultative body established to enhance extended deterrence following the summit meeting between President Yoon Seok-yeol and President Joe Biden last April and the ‘Washington Declaration’ announced as a result. Last July, Deputy Director Kim and Kurt Campbell, Indo-Pacific Coordinator for the White House National Security Council, held the first meeting.
As Coordinator Campbell was nominated as Deputy Secretary of State, Maher Bitar, the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Information and Defense Policy Coordinator, served as the chief U.S. representative for this meeting. The detailed consultation was led by Heo Tae-geun, Director of the Office of National Defense Policy at the ROK Ministry of Defense, and Bipin Narang, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense, and was attended by a total of 60 people from the two countries’ Ministry of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Forces Korea, US Strategic Command, and Indo-Pacific Command.
The two sides agreed to hold the third Nuclear Consultative Group meeting in Korea next summer. The schedule for the 4th meeting is expected to be influenced by the US presidential election in November next year.
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