US Resumes Power Asset Deployment and Joint Exercises, "Ongoing Discussions with Korea"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] A senior official from the U.S. Department of Defense mentioned on the 18th (local time) that discussions with South Korea are ongoing regarding the resumption of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and the deployment of strategic assets.

David Helvey, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, stated during a phone briefing, "North Korea continues to pose an extraordinary threat in the region," adding, "This requires our continuous vigilance," and during the Q&A, he referred to the deployment of strategic assets and the resumption of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises.

When asked about the deployment of strategic assets and the resumption of the joint exercises, Acting Assistant Secretary Helvey said, "We maintain close, open, and effective communication with our ally, South Korea." He also said, "We continue to communicate daily with South Korea to confirm the ways and matters necessary to ensure that we present the most effective deterrence and response capabilities when needed."

He added, "I do not want to get ahead of future decisions, but this is one of the ongoing discussions with South Korea to ensure that we demonstrate the most effective combined deterrence and defense capabilities."

When asked if he expects further provocations from North Korea, he said, "North Korea is one of the most difficult targets among difficult targets," and added, "It is hard to know what will unfold in the coming days or weeks."

When asked whether the Department of Defense still holds the goal of 'Final, Fully Verified Denuclearization' (FFVD), he replied, "FFVD is not just the Department of Defense's goal but a goal shared by the U.S. government and many countries in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond."

He evaded a direct answer when asked whether the reduction of U.S. forces in Germany and the U.S. would affect U.S. forces in South Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.