Seoul: South Korea is capable of taking "primary" responsibility to deter North Korean threats with "critical, but more limited" U.S. support, a new U.S. national defense strategy showed Friday, an assessment in line with the Pentagon's calls for allies and partners to shoulder greater security burdens.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Pentagon's National Defense Strategy also stressed that the "shift" in the balance of responsibility in the Seoul-Washington security alliance is consistent with America's interest in updating U.S. force posture in Korea. The strategy highlights that North Korea poses a "direct military threat" to South Korea, with its nuclear forces presenting a "clear and present" danger of a nuclear attack on the American homeland.

The document emphasizes that South Korea, with its strong military, high defense spending, robust defense industry, and mandatory conscription, is well-equipped to take primary responsibility for deterring North Korea, albeit with critical but more limited U.S. support. It further asserts that South Korea has the determination to address the direct and clear threat posed by North Korea.

The strategy outlines the Pentagon's intention to prioritize strengthening incentives for allies and partners to assume primary responsibility for their own defense in regions including Europe, the Middle East, and the Korean Peninsula, with the U.S. providing critical but limited support.