Korea, US tighten alliance to counter North Korean threats

SEOUL – South Korea and the U.S. have agreed to establish an Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) to better ensure the protection of Korea and U.S.allies from North Korean nuclear weapon and missile threats. The EDSCG will establish a dialogue between South Korea and the U.S. concerning "extended deterrence," which refers to a commitment to use nuclear weapons to deter attacks from North Korea, the official South Korean newsagency reports.

On October 19, South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yun Byung-se, and Minister of National Defence, Han Minkoo, engaged in a "two plus two" dialogue in Washington with their U.S. counterparts, Secretary of State John Kerry and Defence Secretary Ash Carter. Afterwards, they released a joint statement covering the expansion of the U.S.  deterrence doctrine.

According toKorea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vice Minister-level dialogue will bring together the Korean Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence and the U.S. Departments of State and Defence to create a forum where comprehensive, multidimensional negotiations can take place, operating in a similar manner to NATO.

"Any attack on the U.S. or its allies will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons will be met with an effective and overwhelming response," said Secretary Kerry during a joint news conference with Minister Yun after the talks. "The U.S. is committed to defending South Korea through a robust defence posture and through extended deterrence, including the U.S. nuclear umbrella, conventional strikes and missile defence capabilities," he said.

Korea and the U.S. agreed that North Korea will pay an “unbearable cost” should it not abandon its nuclear weapons, the State newsagency reported. To this end, the two nations agreed to work together to apply greater pressure and stiffer sanctions on the North Korean regime.

Minister Yun said that his U.S. counterparts reaffirmed that the U.S. would "defend South Korea from any and all North Korean threats through extended deterrence, encompassing all parameters of defence capabilities". Secretary Kerry said: "On deterrence, we've made it clear that we would deploy THAAD as rapidly as possible to make sure that our allies are protected against any threats."

The leaders also recognised the need to accelerate change in North Korea, and agreed to address a range of North Korean issues, including human rights abuses, overseas slave labour, and facilitating the flow of information into the North. They also said they will be working with the EU on the ongoing North Korean human rights resolution at the U.N. General Assembly.

“As to the question of diplomacy and regional issues,” the report said, “the two countries stressed the importance of co-operating with China in a constructive manner. Mentioning the co-operation that exists between Korea, Japan and China, the leaders discussed expanding the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative (NAPCI).” www.korea.net (ATI).