South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Thursday pledged to build a system that would help Seoul’s key nuclear deterrence talks with the US to continue in a “sustainable and stable manner.”
The vow was included in the policy direction for this year outlined by the ministry during a briefing to acting President Choi Sang-mok.
It was also announced amid growing concerns that the Nuclear Consultative Group, the allies' nuclear deterrence body launched during the Biden administration, could dissolve under incoming President Donald Trump. Trump's approach to foreign policy could bring volatility to the over 70-year alliance between Seoul and Washington, while Pyongyang has been advancing its nuclear capabilities, observers say. On top of it, the political turmoil stemming from suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law decree and his subsequent impeachment may affect Seoul's commitment to the NCG, according to observers.
“To achieve sustainable and stable operation of the Nuclear Consultative Group, we plan to establish a security and communication system that enables better sharing of sensitive information tied to (efforts of) extended joint deterrence by South Korea and US,” the ministry said.
“We plan to establish consultation procedures needed for nuclear operations on the Korean Peninsula, and will continue to develop the concept of conventional nuclear integration, which combines US' nuclear forces with South Korea's conventional forces," it added.
It further pledged to expand and continue the military's various drills and tactical training exercises against possible nuclear attacks from the North.
"We will make efforts to continue the NCG under a different (US) administration," a Defense Ministry official told reporters in a recent closed-door briefing.
"Policy changes related to the extended deterrence policy are projected following the launch of the second Trump administration," the official added.
A former senior Pentagon official said last week that the NCG is likely to continue "for the foreseeable future" after Trump takes office, as the incoming president won't support South Korea's "independent nuclearization."
Vipin Narang, former acting assistant secretary of defense for space policy, added that the NCG is "a way for South Korea to contribute to the extended deterrence relationship" in a sense that Trump will see it as a "good bargain" for Washington, during a virtual forum hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies, a nonprofit research organization based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and McLean, Virginia.
The fourth session of the NCG was initially scheduled to take place last month, but was delayed to last week due to Yoon's sudden declaration of martial law.
Development of areas of common interest between the US and South Korea, including securing contracts for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of US naval vessels, will be another key focus for Seoul, the Defense Ministry highlighted in its 2025 policy direction.
"To take the South Korea-US alliance to the next level, we plan to maintain policy coordination through communication between high-ranking officials and actively develop areas that could benefit both (nations) such as naval shipbuilding, exports repairs and maintenance," it said.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
