South Korea and the United States have initiated discussions in Seoul to strengthen their nuclear response strategies against potential threats from North Korea.
What Happened: South Korea and the United States commenced discussions on Monday in Seoul to enhance coordination of their nuclear response strategies during potential conflicts with North Korea, Reuters reported.
The meeting, part of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), is a continuation of last year’s summit where the U.S. pledged to provide South Korea with greater insight into its nuclear planning against North Korean threats.
North Korea’s rapid advancement in nuclear weapons and delivery systems has raised concerns in South Korea about its dependence on the U.S. “extended deterrence,” essentially the American nuclear umbrella.
Some South Korean politicians, including senior members of President Yoon Suk Yeol‘s party, have advocated for South Korea to develop its own nuclear arsenal, a move opposed by Washington.
In late May, North Korea’s attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite failed when a new rocket engine exploded mid-flight. Both Seoul and Washington condemned the launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council sanctions.
The current talks are led by Cho Chang-rae, South Korea’s deputy defense minister for policy, and Vipin Narang, acting U.S. assistant secretary of defense for space policy.
Following their December meeting, both nations warned that any nuclear attack by North Korea would be met with a “swift, overwhelming and decisive response,” potentially ending Kim Jong Un‘s regime.
Last week, South Korea’s Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated their commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Why It Matters: The nuclear planning talks come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. After North Korea sent trash-filled balloons across the border, North Korean defectors in Seoul launched balloons filled with K-pop and South Korean cultural content across the border as retailiation.
The U.S. recently flew a B-1B bomber over the region, dropping Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) during a training drill. This move was seen as a demonstration of military strength and solidarity with South Korea.
Further escalating the situation, Kim Jong Un‘s sister, Kim Yo Jong, issued a stern warning threatening “new counteraction” against South Korea if it continued loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflet distribution. This warning underscores the fragile and volatile nature of inter-Korean relations.
Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
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