2nd NCG meeting held in the US
Establishment of nuclear strategy planning and operation guidelines by mid-next year
By June of next year, South Korea and the United States will release nuclear strategic planning and operation guidelines containing comprehensive guidelines for joint response in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack. This includes information sharing on nuclear assets held by the United States as well as consultation procedures and systems to discuss nuclear counterattacks against North Korea in the event of a nuclear crisis. As the North Korean nuclear threat escalates, a basis is being prepared for South Korea and the United States to jointly implement extended deterrence, such as a nuclear umbrella, in the event of war.
Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, announced that South Korea and the United States held the second Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting in Washington, D.C. on the 15th (local time) and discussed this. Deputy Director Kim said at a press conference that day, “We discussed nuclear strategy planning and operation guidelines and decided to complete them by the middle of next year.” He added, “(The guidelines) are comprehensive guidelines on how to suppress and respond to North Korea’s nuclear threat.” .
The guidelines include issues such as methods for sharing nuclear-related civilian information and establishment of a security system, consultation procedures and systems in the event of a nuclear crisis, establishment of security infrastructure between the leaders of the two countries, and operation of real-time communication channels. In addition to sharing confidential information such as the U.S. military’s nuclear assets, the consultation process that will take place in the process of deciding whether to launch a U.S. nuclear counterattack in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack targeting South Korea will be documented in the ROK-U.S. agreement.
In particular, Deputy Director Kim said, “When a crisis occurs, there is no time for discussion,” and added, “Portable equipment that allows frequent phone calls has been delivered so that the leaders of both countries can make decisions immediately.” He continued, “We are in the process of improving this portable equipment so that it can be protected from electromagnetic attacks and can make calls more safely and without problems even in crisis situations.” This means that in the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea, the leaders of the United States and South Korea will activate a ‘hotline’ at any time to discuss whether the United States will launch a nuclear counterattack.
In particular, Deputy Director Kim said, “We plan to train together next year by including a nuclear operation scenario in ROK-US joint exercises such as the Shield of Liberty (UFS) exercise.” He continued, “We are continuing to specify the concept of integration and operation of nuclear and non-nuclear forces applicable to the Korean Peninsula to the extent that joint operations between Korea and the United States are possible.” “It will proceed together,” he said. This is interpreted to mean that if a nuclear counterattack is decided in response to North Korea’s nuclear attack, South Korea’s conventional forces, along with America’s nuclear strategic assets, will be able to engage in military operations.
The nuclear strategy planning and operation guidelines also include procedures for discussing message management between South Korea and the United States to prevent unnecessary escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula due to North Korea’s miscalculations or misjudgments in the process of responding to North Korea’s high-intensity provocations. Deputy Director Kim mentioned North Korea’s cancellation of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement and said, “North Korea has violated (the agreement) 3,000 to 4,000 times and claims that it is South Korea’s fault that the military agreement was broken, but the unnecessary message that escalates the crisis is the ROK-US alliance. “I won’t do it,” he explained.
In addition, South Korea and the United States decided to continue providing confidential information training on U.S. nuclear strategy and planning. Deputy Director Kim said, “Our side’s nuclear ‘IQ’ may continue to increase,” and “South Korea and the United States will move towards an integrated expanded deterrence system between Korea and the United States through the NCG.” He continued, “Around June of next year is the target time to complete the establishment of the extended deterrence system,” and added, “An additional NCG may be operated to determine how to maintain and manage the completed extended deterrence system.”
Meanwhile, in a joint NCG press statement, South Korea and the United States said, “Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States and its allies cannot be tolerated, and it will result in the end of the Kim Jong-un regime,” and “The United States will immediately and immediately respond to any nuclear attack by North Korea against South Korea.” “We reiterated that we will face an overwhelming and decisive response,” he said.
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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.