US And South Korea Agrees On Expanded Deterrence By Deploying Nuclear Weapons

Media reported that South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, who is visiting the United States, held bilateral talks on February 3 with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington. During the meeting, the two nations reaffirmed the principle of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and Committed to strengthening ‘extended deterrence’ by deploying nuclear weapons, to counter Pyongyang’s threats.

Seoul and Washington will continue to maintain close cooperation to achieve real peace on the Korean Peninsula, uphold a stable joint defense posture, and further enhance the effectiveness of expanded deterrence, Park Jin said during a joint news conference after the meeting at the State Department in Washington. Any provocation North Korea launches, it will face a firm and united response. Blinken said that the U.S.-South Korea alliance is crucial for safeguarding security in the region, reaffirming the U.S. security commitment to Japan and South Korea remains unchanged while continuously strengthening the three countries’ defense cooperation.

Seoul military said in a statement, the South Korean Air Force jointly with the U.S. staged drills over the sea to the west of the Korean Peninsula on February 3, with stealth fighter such as Korea’s F35A, and the American F-22 Raptor, F35B fighter aircraft and F16CM fighter aircraft. It is reported this is the second joint exercise in a week. This practice aims to enhance the collective operational execution and interoperability of the two air forces, as well as to demonstrate the commitment of the United States to assist in the defense of South Korea.

The Air Forces of both countries “will continue to strengthen joint drills to have strong response capabilities and readiness against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats,” it said in a statement.