US, S.Korean Officers Huddle for New Nuclear Battle Planning Talks

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol mentioned on Tuesday {that a} new nuclear consultative group between South Korea and the US could be a “start line” to construct a powerful and efficient deterrence towards North Korea.

Officers from the US and South Korea are assembly on Tuesday in Seoul for the primary Nuclear Consultative Group dialogue, geared toward higher coordinating allied nuclear response within the occasion of a conflict with North Korea.

“By way of a South Korea-U.S. alliance upgraded to a brand new nuclear-based paradigm, we are going to make substantial efforts to basically block North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats,” Yoon advised a briefing.

The NCG was first introduced through the bilateral summit in Washington in April amid rising calls in South Korea for its personal nuclear bombs, a step Washington opposes.

China and North Korea have criticised the group’s formation as additional elevating tensions on the Korean peninsula.

When requested whether or not South Korea can have a job in U.S. nuclear conflict planning, a senior U.S. administration official mentioned the group was extra about sharing info.

“Loads of the target right here is to be sure that our South Korean allies have extra transparency, extra entry, extra direct reference to planning, in order that they’ll perceive how authorities officers have lengthy been eager about what goes into defence and deterrence for South Korea,” the official mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity to debate the talks.

The inaugural assembly will probably be co-chaired by South Korea’s Principal Deputy Nationwide Safety Adviser Kim Tae-hyo and U.S. Nationwide Safety Council Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.

“We are going to focus on info sharing, session system, steps for joint planning and implementation to strengthen nuclear deterrence towards North Korea,” Yoon’s spokesperson, Lee Do-woon, advised reporters on Monday.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Josh Smith; Further reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington; Enhancing by Ed Davies and Stephen Coates)

Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.