The United States defined North Korea’s use of nuclear weapons as an unacceptable act and strongly warned that if North Korea uses nuclear weapons, it will bring about the end of the regime.
The US Department of Defense announced on the 23rd (local time) that the ROK and the US conducted the 8th Extended Deterrence Exercise (DSC TTX) at the Pentagon the previous day and jointly announced the results.
He explained that during the exercise, various measures were discussed to show strong response capabilities and will in preparation for the possibility of North Korea using nuclear weapons.
As stated in the Nuclear Posture Review Report, the US side pointed out that any nuclear attack by North Korea against the US or its allies or partner countries would be unacceptable and would lead to the end of the North Korean regime.
The US side also said the two countries shared that the ROK-US alliance is prepared to respond to North Korea’s nuclear threat.
The U.S. Department of Defense reported that attendees assessed that South Korea’s improvement in its conventional weapons capabilities had strengthened its deterrence. Both sides agreed on the need to continue strengthening deterrence through strong consultation mechanisms and crisis communication, as well as information sharing and joint planning and implementation.
The two sides shared the view that exercises such as the DSC TTX contribute to increasing mutual understanding about leveraging and strengthening alliance capabilities, the Pentagon said.
The two sides agreed to reflect the strategic measures discussed during the exercise in the South Korea-U.S. Customized Deterrence Strategy (TDS), which is currently being revised, and to continue cooperation by holding a follow-up TTX involving South Korean and U.S. political, military, and government officials in the near future.
The ROK-US delegation also visited the US Navy nuclear-powered submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, on the 23rd. The Kings Bay Naval Base is the home port for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and submarines (SSBMs), one of the three nuclear axes of the United States.
The South Korean delegation’s visit to a U.S. nuclear submarine base is interpreted as a warning about North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.