Seoul: South Korea and the United States are set to convene a crucial meeting of their Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Seoul this Thursday, the Ministry of Defense in Seoul announced. This meeting comes amidst ongoing efforts by North Korea to enhance its nuclear and weapons capabilities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this will be the sixth NCG meeting, led by South Korea's Deputy Defense Minister for Policy, Kim Hong-cheol, and Robert Soofer, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Nuclear Deterrence and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. The consultation is significant as it marks the second such meeting since both countries' leadership changed, with North Korea having declared its nuclear-armed status as "irreversible."
"The two sides will discuss various ways to maintain and strengthen the allies' nuclear deterrence and readiness posture," the Ministry of Defense stated. The NCG was established in July 2023 under the Washington Declaration, a bilateral agreement aimed at reinforcing the credibility of the U.S.'s extended deterrence commitment to South Korea in the face of North Korean threats.
Extended deterrence involves the U.S.'s promise to employ its full military capabilities, including nuclear options, to defend South Korea. In the previous meeting held in Washington, the U.S. reaffirmed its dedication to this pledge, despite questions about program continuations from the Trump administration.
The NCG has facilitated South Korea's involvement in U.S. nuclear and strategic planning related to potential crises on the Korean Peninsula. It has enabled joint planning and execution, where Seoul supports U.S. nuclear missions using its conventional military capabilities. Additionally, the NCG has established scenario-based exercises and simulations to prepare for nuclear contingencies.
A key aspect of the U.S. commitment through the NCG is increasing the visibility of its strategic assets around the Korean Peninsula to deter North Korean aggression. The allies are also working on enhancing information-sharing through joint military and intelligence threat assessments.