U.S. extended deterrence

The establishment of the NCG represents a timely and measured response to changing domestic situations in South Korea as well as the growing nuclear threat from North Korea.

The powerful sister of the North Korean leader released a statement denouncing the Washington Declaration and the new Nuclear Consultative Group.

In Yoon’s visit to Washington this week, South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their joint efforts to respond to North Korean nuclear threats.

The planned dock visits are a key element of the “Washington Declaration” issued during President Yoon’s U.S. visit in a bid to deter a North Korean attack.

Two days after the U.S. defense secretary’s visit to Seoul, the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson published a statement to denounce Washington’s moves.

Kicking off his visit to Seoul, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea.

“If North Korea's nuclear threat continues to grow, the answer is not for the United States to support a South Korean nuclear weapons program.”

Concerns over the United States’ extended deterrence are growing in Tokyo and Seoul.

Strengthening deterrence isn’t all about concrete realities and advanced capabilities. It’s just as much – if not more – about perception.

It may be the best option for the South Korea-U.S. alliance to deter a nuclear war with North Korea.

3 points need to be addressed in future working-level EDSCG meetings in order to resolve the fundamental insecurity presented by the North Korean nuclear threat.