Korea to Lead Conventional Defense... U.S. to Strengthen Extended Deterrence Including Nuclear Forces

First South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group Meeting Held After Launch of Second Trump Administration

The first South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting was held following the launch of the second Trump administration.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on December 12, the fifth South Korea-U.S. NCG meeting took place the previous day (local time) in Washington, D.C., with Kim Hongcheol, Director General for National Defense Policy at the Ministry of National Defense, and Robert Soofer, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, attending as the respective heads of delegation. The delegations included officials from defense, foreign affairs, military, and intelligence authorities.

According to the joint press statement distributed by the Ministry of National Defense, Director General Kim stated that South Korea would take a leading role in conventional defense of the Korean Peninsula. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Soofer reaffirmed the United States' commitment to providing extended deterrence to South Korea by utilizing the full range of U.S. military capabilities, including nuclear forces.

The NCG was officially launched in April 2023 during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, following the so-called "Washington Declaration" by the leaders of both countries. This meeting was the first in 11 months since January 10 and the first since the inauguration of the new administrations in both countries. The Ministry of National Defense reported that both delegations agreed on the NCG's role as a "continuous bilateral consultative body" to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance and extended deterrence.

In addition, the delegations approved the mission plan and major activities for the first half of next year, including the sixth NCG plenary session.