South Korea, US review joint guidelines against North Korean nuclear threats

Cho Chang-rae, South Korean deputy defense minister for policy, and Vipin Narang, acting US assistant secretary of defense for space policy, are seen shaking hands ahead of the third meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group on Monday in Seoul in this photograph provided by the Seoul defense ministry. (Ministry of National Defense)

South Korea and the United States completed a review of joint guidelines for responding against a possible nuclear attack by North Korea, according to the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul.

After holding a third meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group in Seoul on Monday, the ministry said the South Korea-US joint guidelines, in the process of being finalized, would touch on the alliance's policies and principles for nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula.

The ministry described the guidelines as a “solid foundation for enhanced and integrated extended deterrence cooperation between South Korea and the US.”

The ministry said that the NCG meetings have allowed “in-depth discussions on extended deterrence, including information-sharing, strategic messaging and joint planning and execution concerning nuclear deterrence.”

At the latest meeting the two countries discussed ways for making US strategic assets more visible in and around South Korea and conducting joint nuclear exercises, the ministry said.

South Korea and the US agreed to continue to follow through with the NCG initiatives and plans over the rest of the year. The next NCG meeting is to be held later this year.

The NCG was established to carry out the commitments outlined in President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden’s Washington Declaration last year.

By Kim Arin(arin@heraldcorp.com)