It is reported that South Korea and the U.S. are discussing holding the first meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), which was agreed upon through the Washington Declaration last month, to be held next month at the earliest. It is interpreted as an attempt to speed up the strengthening of the nuclear umbrella (extended deterrence) by promptly operating the NCG, which will discuss the operation of US nuclear assets in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
Regarding the timing of the NCG meeting, a government official said on the 24th, “The specific schedule has not been decided,” but “I know that discussions are under way to hold the first meeting next month at the earliest or in July at the latest.” Another official also said, “We are discussing while leaving open the possibility of holding (the first meeting) in Seoul.”
At the NCG, the US and South Korean delegations discussed plans for the operation of US nuclear and strategic weapons, and jointly planned and executed specific methods to respond by combining US nuclear forces and South Korean military advanced conventional forces in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack on South Korea. plans will be discussed. The outcome of the meeting will be immediately reported to the Presidents of both countries. Plans to deploy strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula, such as the US strategic nuclear submarine (SSBN) and strategic bombers, will also be intensively discussed.
Heo Tae-geun, head of the Defense Policy Office, who is in charge of the nuclear umbrella exercise (TTX) between the ROK and US military authorities, is likely to be mentioned as the current representative of the NCG. However, there is a possibility that it will be chosen as a person with a pan-governmental character, such as a person in the presidential office, to differentiate from the existing consultative body for responding to North Korean nuclear and missile threats between South Korea and the United States.
In line with the operation of the NCG, South Korea and the U.S. plan to continue expanding nuclear umbrella response drills, such as government-wide nuclear umbrella operation simulation (TTS) and TTX. The Office of the President said, “There is a fact that the TTS was conducted last month led by the National Security Council (NSC). We are continuously discussing ways to effectively strengthen extended deterrence between Korea and the United States,” he officially confirmed the Dong-A Ilbo’s report on the 24th.
Source: Donga
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