SEOUL: South Korea and the United States are scheduled to engage in a discussion-based exercise simulating the use of a nuclear weapon by North Korea next week, as announced by Seoul’s defense ministry on Thursday. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to bolster joint deterrence against the nuclear threats posed by North Korea.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho Chang-rae, South Korea’s deputy defense minister for policy, and Cara Abercrombie, the U.S. acting deputy under secretary of defense for policy, will spearhead the tabletop exercise. The exercise is slated to occur over a two-day period next week in Washington, D.C. It marks the inaugural military tabletop exercise under the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) framework, which aims to enhance cooperative policy coordination between the allies concerning nuclear and strategic planning in the event of a crisis or contingencies on the Korean Peninsula.

The NCG was formed as part of the Washington Declaration, which was adopted by South Korean Pres
ident Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden during their summit in Washington in April of the previous year. This initiative seeks to enhance the credibility of extended deterrence amid North Korea’s ongoing efforts to advance its weapons programs. Prior to the NCG’s establishment, the allies conducted similar exercises, known as the Deterrence Strategy Committee tabletop exercise.

Next week, Cho and Abercrombie will also lead the fourth session of the NCG meeting, which will include the participation of security, defense, and foreign policy officials from both nations. Both countries intend to review the progress achieved through the NCG in areas such as the security and intelligence-sharing process, nuclear consultations, strategic communications during contingencies, conventional nuclear integration, and exercises and simulated drills. The upcoming NCG session is anticipated to be the final meeting of its kind under the Biden administration.