"South Korea-US Alliance Must Be Further Strengthened and Expanded to Deter North Korea's Nuclear Threat" (Comprehensive)

US-ROK Alliance International Academic Conference... Former US-ROK Combined Forces Command Leadership Discussion
"Alliance Should Be Further Strengthened and Expanded to Countries Like Japan"
On 'Extended Deterrence,' ROK Says "Strengthen" vs US Says "Sufficient," Diverging Views

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The former commanders of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command agreed that the ROK-US alliance must be further strengthened as a solution to North Korea's repeated provocations and the escalating tensions in the Northeast Asian situation. However, opinions diverged between the two sides regarding measures to strengthen the extended deterrence strategy provided by the United States in response to North Korea's nuclear threat.

Goldberg: "Rising Threats from North Korea, China, and Russia... ROK-US Alliance Must Pursue Joint Security"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, delivered the keynote speech at the 'ROK-US Alliance International Academic Conference' held on the afternoon of the 25th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, jointly hosted by the ROK-US Alliance Foundation and the Korean Veterans Association of the U.S. Forces Korea. He stated, "The current status of the ROK-US alliance is stronger than ever," and added, "We are facing unprecedented challenges from authoritarian states such as Russia, China, and North Korea."

Ambassador Goldberg referred to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and called for the strengthening and expansion of the ROK-US alliance. He emphasized, "It is time to consider the situation where democratic values are under threat," and "The ROK-US alliance has become the foundation of the ROK-US relationship beyond mere security issues." This is interpreted as a call to pursue joint security in response to threats from North Korea, China, and Russia.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop condemned North Korea's successive provocations and announced that both sides will closely discuss practical measures to strengthen the implementation of extended deterrence at the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting (SCM). Minister Lee said, "The more North Korea provokes, the stronger the ROK-US alliance becomes, and if North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face an overwhelming and decisive response."

Extended deterrence is a concept whereby the United States considers the nuclear and missile threats from hostile countries against its allies as threats to the U.S. mainland and provides deterrence capabilities including nuclear capabilities, conventional forces, and missile defense. However, as North Korea has recently carried out unprecedented provocations, raising the sense of crisis in the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, doubts about this U.S. extended deterrence strategy have been raised.

Former ROK-US Combined Forces Commanders: "ROK-US Alliance Must Be Strengthened and Expanded to Japan"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Based on this situation, a discussion session involving former commanders of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command was also held. On the U.S. side, former commanders Vincent Brooks, Robert Abrams, and Curtis Scaparrotti participated, while on the Korean side, the panel included Jeong Seung-jo, chairman of the ROK-US Alliance Foundation (former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and former Combined Forces Command deputy commanders Lim Ho-young and Choi Byung-hyuk. The session was moderated by former Foreign Minister Yoo Myung-hwan.

The panelists agreed that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is more unstable than ever. In particular, the U.S. side emphasized the increasing threat from China in the Indo-Pacific region and stressed that South Korea is not free from that threat. Both sides agreed on the need to further strengthen the ROK-US alliance and the importance of trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

Former Commander Brooks, who spoke first, said, "As seen in the party congress where President Xi Jinping secured a third term, China's goal is not to change the world for the better but to hold on to power," and added, "To respond to this strategic threat, the ROK-US alliance must be strengthened and cooperation expanded to include countries such as Japan and Australia."

Chairman Jeong Seung-jo presented three challenges to 'security': North Korea's military threats, South Korea's geopolitical strategic environment in Northeast Asia, and the public's security awareness. He emphasized, "For the ROK-US alliance to be well maintained and to effectively demonstrate its capabilities, cooperation with Japan is absolutely essential." He urged the government to adopt a pragmatic approach of 'practicality and realism' in Korea-Japan relations, cooperating where possible while addressing issues as needed.

ROK: "Strengthening Extended Deterrence Amid Rising Nuclear Threats"… US: "Current Measures Are Sufficient"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the strengthening of extended deterrence on the Korean Peninsula, opinions between the two sides somewhat diverged. When former Foreign Minister Yoo pointed out that "concerns about U.S. extended deterrence are growing in Korean society," former Commander Scaparrotti responded, "The extended deterrence provided by the United States is absolutely firm and sufficient," and added, "(Regarding NATO-style nuclear sharing) the situations in Europe and on the Korean Peninsula are different."

On the other hand, former Deputy Commander Lim Ho-young said, "In a situation where North Korea's level of provocation has escalated unprecedentedly, the nuclear and missile threats are urgent issues threatening survival," and raised his voice, "While firmly maintaining the alliance as the U.S. desires, all possibilities, including the permanent deployment of strategic assets in South Korea, must be kept open." He showed a hardline stance, saying, "If it does not work, we must abandon denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and even consider NATO-style nuclear sharing."

However, former Commander Scaparrotti proposed that both sides concretize many consultations through a 'Nuclear Strategic Planning Group,' similar to the past North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as a way to strengthen the message of extended deterrence. He added, "Extended deterrence is not simply a matter of weapons but includes various elements such as diplomatic policy."

Meanwhile, the event was also attended by Park Min-sik, head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; Kim Seung-gyeom, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Lim Jong-deuk, Second Deputy Director of the National Security Office; An Byung-seok, Deputy Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command; and National Assembly Defense Committee members Shin Won-sik and Kim Byung-joo of the People Power Party. Also present were UN Command and U.S. Forces Korea service members and their families who were invited by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs during their visit to South Korea.

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