Washington: Many South Korean defense capabilities could contribute to deterring an assertive China, a senior Pentagon official said Tuesday, emphasizing that the United States' defense priorities should focus on addressing the "most serious" military threat posed by the Asian superpower.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for East Asia John Noh, the nominee for assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs, highlighted the necessity for South Korea and other allies to "dramatically" increase their defense spending and assume greater responsibility for regional security. In his written responses to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Noh noted that while South Korea should primarily focus on conventional deterrence against North Korea, its capabilities could also significantly contribute to deterring China.
Noh pointed out specific capabilities such as long-range fires, integrated air and missile defense, and space and electronic warfare that could enhance regional deterrence. This statement comes during efforts by Seoul and Washington to "modernize" their alliance amidst an intensifying Sino-U.S. rivalry. U.S. officials have characterized this as an effort to ensure the alliance remains "strategically sustainable."
Regarding China's naval activities in the Yellow Sea, Noh suggested these actions appear aimed at "intimidating" South Korea. These activities reportedly involve China's construction of steel structures in a Provisional Maritime Zone, a contentious sea area between the two nations.
Noh emphasized that if confirmed, he would collaborate with U.S. government colleagues and South Korean counterparts to evaluate these activities and recommend appropriate responses. He underscored that the primary challenge he would face, if confirmed, is addressing the military threat from China, which is undergoing a significant military expansion.
The Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy has shifted focus towards protecting the U.S. homeland and Western Hemisphere, moving away from its long-standing emphasis on deterring China. Noh believes that U.S. defense and security priorities in the Indo-Pacific should center on deterring China, which he considers the most serious military threat.
Noh highlighted the importance of deploying combat-credible military forces west of the international dateline, modernizing force posture, and enhancing capabilities like integrated air and missile defense. He further stressed the crucial role of regional allies in countering Chinese threats and outlined a "strategy of denial" that relies on allies taking greater responsibility for their own defense.
He advocated for transforming alliance relationships into true burden-sharing partnerships, where allies deploy combat-credible forces capable of denying adversaries their objectives. This would enable the U.S. to focus its advanced capabilities where they are most needed.
When asked about the role of U.S. troops in South Korea, Noh stated that American forces should remain focused on defending Korea while also being available for regional or global operations. He also addressed the growing nuclear threats from North Korea and China, advocating for forward-deploying strategic military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Noh supported President Donald Trump's statement that Taiwan should allocate "upwards to 10 percent" of its GDP on defense, underscoring the importance of regional defense investments.
The assistant secretary position oversees security issues related to the two Koreas, China, Japan, Australia, and India, among other nations.