"NCG to Elevate Nuclear Threat Discussions Between Korea and the US to a New Level"

Ministry of National Defense Deputy Vice Minister: "We Will Create a More Equal Alliance"

At last month's South Korea-US summit, the 'Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG)' was established, and the US Department of Defense has raised the opinion that it will be elevated to a new level where it can discuss response measures to various contingencies.

Siddharth Mohandas, US Department of Defense Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia, said at a seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the 25th (local time), "The NCG will be elevated to a new level where it can share assessments of nuclear threats and nuclear scenarios between South Korea and the US and discuss response measures to various contingencies."

He referred to the Washington Declaration, which included the establishment of the NCG, saying, "It states that if a nuclear use scenario occurs on the Korean Peninsula, every effort will be made to consult with South Korea at the highest level," and made this statement.

He said, "South Korea is one of the closest allies, and issues related to nuclear use are among the most serious security problems a country can face," adding, "This (NCG) is about treating allies like allies and creating a more equal alliance that does more together to solve problems."

He continued, "While the only authority to use nuclear weapons within the US system lies with the US President, the idea of deepening consultations itself is very appropriate," he evaluated.

U.S. President Joe Biden. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mohandas, regarding the US response efforts to North Korea's nuclear threats, said, "We maintain credible deterrence in various ways together with our allies," adding, "We are also focusing on conventional deterrence, which starts with the 28,500 troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula."

He continued, "We have increased the scale and complexity of training and have resumed joint live-fire exercises that had been suspended for years."

He also said, "We have increased the frequency of strategic asset deployments to the Korean Peninsula," mentioning the deployment of F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters and the Reagan Carrier Strike Group around the Korean Peninsula, and predicted, "In the coming months, you will see additional important (strategic asset) deployments."

Eli Ratner, US Department of Defense Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia, said, "Another important part of the Washington Declaration is the South Korean government's expression of trust in the US extended deterrence," adding, "This is not only because of the document but also because of significant efforts such as on-site visits to (strategic assets), training and extended deterrence exercises (TTX), and deployments of (strategic assets)." He further stated, "Extended deterrence efforts and discussions are also evolving in line with changes in the security environment."