He said that Kim Jong-un is now pursuing a strategy to create division among five nations working together to pressure North Korea, referring to South Korea, the US, China, Russia and Japan.

"I think he knows that when countries around him are operating in a cohesive way focused against him, it will be very difficult for him to resist," he said, adding, "So the counter to his strategy is cohesion."

He also called for defense buildup in Seoul and areas surrounding the capital, highlighting that the recent deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system dispelled security threats in the southern portion of South Korea.

"On the Korean Peninsula, several things can be held at risk by North Korea. But with the deployment of things like THAAD, that changed what it is Kim Jong-un can hold at risk, especially the southern portion of the peninsula," Brooks noted. "This is how it should be viewed."

"We need to make sure we are adding to the defense that already exists to protect the population in Seoul and the metropolitan area ... so that Kim Jong-un cannot hold this population at risk."

Also touching on the ongoing efforts to transfer the US-held right to control wartime operations of Korean troops back to Seoul, he stressed the importance of enhancing necessary capabilities on the part of Seoul.

"We have to also think about those critical military capabilities that are necessary for the ROK to be able to exercise full control of the alliance forces, the US and South Korea, in time of war," he said, adding it requires South Korea's investment, commitment, science and technology, as well as research and development.

Also extolling South Korea's contribution to cover more than 90 percent of the funds needed to create the new US military complex in Pyeongtaek, Camp Humphreys, he also said, "It will be the first place I will take the president of the US next week," referring to President Donald Trump's visit to South Korea. (Yonhap)