South Korea’s president said US assurances of “extended deterrence” were no longer sufficient in the face of North Korea’s growing nuclear capabilities.
Published on January 2, 2023, January 2, 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said Seoul and Washington are discussing joint exercises involving US nuclear assets to counter North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile programs.
In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper on Monday, Yoon said Washington’s existing “nuclear umbrella” and “extended deterrence” are no longer enough to reassure South Koreans.
He was referring to the ability of the US military, particularly its nuclear forces, to repel attacks against its allies.
“What we call extended deterrence was also the United States telling us not to worry because it will take care of everything, but now it’s difficult to convince our people of that,” he said. “The U.S. government also understands this to some degree.”
He said Seoul wants to participate in the US nuclear operation to better respond to North Korea’s nuclear threats.
“Nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but planning, information sharing, exercises and training should be jointly conducted by South Korea and the United States,” Yoon said, adding that Washington is quite positive about the idea.
Yoon’s remarks came a day after North Korea’s state media reported that its leader, Kim Jong Un, had called for the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles and an exponential increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal to counter hostilities between the United States and the South. Korea.
Kim also told a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party last week that South Korea had now become his country’s “undoubted enemy” and set new military goals, hinting at another round of intense weapons tests and tensions.
On Sunday, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile from its eastern mantle in a rare late-night New Year’s Day weapons test, following three ballistic missile launches the previous day, ending a year marked by a record number of missile tests.
North Korea’s race to advance its nuclear and missile programs has reignited debate over South Korea’s own nuclear arsenal, with most South Koreans in favor of developing a domestic nuclear weapons program, but Yoon said maintaining the NPT. Weapons remained important.
Inter-Korean relations have long been strained, but have further frayed since Yoon took office in May.
Yoon’s comments on the nuclear drills are the latest demonstration of his tough stance on North Korea.
Last week, he urged the military to prepare for war with “overwhelming” capabilities after North Korea’s drone incursion into South Korea.
Analysts say tensions could worsen.
“This year could be a year of crisis, with military tensions on the Korean Peninsula going beyond what they were in 2017,” said Hong Min, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unity, citing “fire and fury” under former US President Donald Trump’s administration.
“North Korea’s tough stance…and aggressive weapons development, when met with South Korea-US joint exercises and a proportionate response, could raise tensions in an instant, and we cannot rule out something akin to a regional conflict if both sides have a misunderstanding of the situation. ,” Hong said.
