US-ROK Joint Nuclear Exercise? "Military Delusion" vs "SCM Joint Statement"

Kim Jong-dae "US Policy Core is Non-Proliferation"
Taeyoung-ho "Reasonable Statement from the Commander-in-Chief of the ROK Armed Forces"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Political opinions are divided over the controversy surrounding the 'joint nuclear exercises' sparked by remarks from President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden.

On the 3rd, President Yoon mentioned in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo that discussions are underway with the U.S. regarding joint planning and joint exercises involving nuclear capabilities, but President Biden responded with a "No," sparking controversy.

Former Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jong-dae appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the 4th and called President Yoon's remarks "completely impossible," stating, "For us to conduct joint planning and joint exercises with the U.S. nuclear forces, a revolutionary change in the Korea-U.S. relationship would be necessary."

He criticized, "The existing agreement between Korea and the U.S. is merely a political pledge that the U.S. will provide a nuclear umbrella in case of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, outlining U.S. actions during wartime. If this is misunderstood as conducting nuclear war simulations and preparations during peacetime, it is a huge misconception and a delusion. It is a military fantasy."

He added, "President Biden has been an advocate for a nuclear-free world, and the core of U.S. policy is non-proliferation. Planning nuclear war exercises with allies would be clear nuclear proliferation and cannot be accepted on the basis of values and norms."

Former Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jong-dae. Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "TTX exercises are led by the U.S., with the Korean military observing or being notified afterward, resembling a NATO-style nuclear sharing model with a passive role. It is difficult to see it as a simulation where all processes of planning, preparation, and exercises are conducted jointly. Since Korea has been pressing hard, the U.S. is expected to handle it by maintaining its monopoly over nuclear matters while saying 'let's review it,'" he said.

Regarding the presidential office's explanation, he said, "There have been previous agreements on emergency plans, exercises, and provision of strategic assets; this just means strengthening them. Korea and the U.S. are speaking different languages."

He further claimed, "The atmosphere in Yongsan and from President Yoon is about conducting simulated military exercises and extended deterrence operation exercises (TTX) premised on nuclear use during peacetime, but I have never heard of any concrete language or agreement between Korea and the U.S. on this."

On the other hand, Tae Young-ho, a People Power Party lawmaker, rebutted that President Yoon's remarks reflect the content agreed upon at the 54th Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held last November. Through Facebook on the same day, he pointed out, "Any politician with even a general understanding of diplomacy and security would know whether there has been any substantial progress in discussions to enhance the Korea-U.S. extended deterrence capability against North Korean nuclear threats since the Yoon administration took office."

Tae claimed, "After the joint statement was announced, the U.S. redeployed the B-52H strategic bombers capable of nuclear delivery near the Korean Peninsula at the end of last year, after withdrawing them from the Guam base in 2020, and conducted combined Korea-U.S. air exercises."

Tae Young-ho, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

He added, "Unlike the previous administration, a two-channel consultative body at the level of deputy assistant secretaries and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Combined Forces Command has been formed and is operating. It has been confirmed that this year there are plans to revise the tailored deterrence strategy (TDS) against North Korean nuclear threats and to annualize extended deterrence operation exercises assuming North Korean nuclear use scenarios, ensuring Korea's involvement in the decision-making process under the U.S. nuclear umbrella."

Tae also said, "According to the results of Korea-U.S. joint exercise consultations, practical training scenarios are being conducted where Korea supports U.S. nuclear delivery strategic assets with conventional means. President Yoon's remarks are reasonable statements from a commander-in-chief reporting realistically discussed issues between Korea and the U.S. to the public."

He warned the Democratic Party, saying, "The Yoon administration is strengthening national security by enhancing concrete planning and exercises with the U.S. to deter North Korean nuclear threats on the Korean Peninsula. No matter how urgent political shielding is, diplomacy and security should not be used as subjects of political strife, and I hope they observe this boundary."

Meanwhile, as the controversy grew, the Korea-U.S. governments moved to clarify the remarks. On the 3rd, Kim Eun-hye, the presidential office spokesperson, said in a written briefing, "President Biden's remarks today were a response to a Reuters reporter abruptly asking if joint nuclear exercises were being discussed, to which he naturally had to say no. 'Joint nuclear exercise' is a term possible only among nuclear-armed countries," she explained. She reaffirmed, "Korea and the U.S. are discussing information sharing, joint planning, and joint execution plans regarding the operation of U.S. nuclear strategic assets in response to North Korean nuclear threats."

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre, when asked about President Biden's remarks during a briefing, said, "I want to be very clear. We are not discussing joint nuclear exercises. Korea is a non-nuclear weapon state."

However, Jean-Pierre added, "But President Biden and President Yoon met in Cambodia last November and instructed their teams to develop effective and coordinated response plans for various scenarios, including North Korea's use of nuclear weapons."

She continued, "That is what those teams are working on, and it is what President Yoon clearly mentioned yesterday (in the media interview)." She reiterated, "The U.S. is fully committed to the alliance with Korea, providing extended deterrence through all defense capabilities."