New U.S. Defense Strategy: "South Korea Fully Capable of Taking Responsibility for Deterring North Korea"

The Trump administration of the United States stated in its newly released National Defense Strategy (NDS) on the 23rd (local time) that South Korea is fully capable of taking the 'primary responsibility' for deterring North Korea, and that this aligns with U.S. national interests.

President Lee Jae-myung is guiding U.S. President Donald Trump to his seat after a commemorative photo session for the Korea-U.S. summit at Gyeongju Museum in Gyeongbuk on the 29th. Photo by Yonhap News

In the NDS, the Trump administration said, "South Korea is capable of taking primary responsibility for deterring North Korea, while receiving critical but more limited U.S. support."

The report went on to state, "South Korea also has the willingness to do so, given that it faces a direct and clear threat from North Korea," adding, "This adjustment in the balance of responsibility for deterrence is in line with U.S. interests as it updates the U.S. military posture on the Korean Peninsula."

The NDS also assessed that North Korea is capable of striking targets in South Korea and Japan with nuclear weapons, and that it poses a real and clear nuclear attack threat to the U.S. mainland as well.

Furthermore, the NDS pointed out that even though North Korea's conventional military forces are outdated, South Korea must remain vigilant against the threat of a North Korean invasion.