Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop: "South Korea and the US Can Jointly Deter North Korea's Nuclear Threat"

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop emphasized on the 26th that "South Korea and the United States can jointly deter North Korea's use of nuclear weapons."

Minister Lee, speaking as a lecturer at the People Power Party study group 'National Sympathy' held at the National Assembly that morning, said, "Everyone would agree that the threat of North Korean nuclear weapons and missiles is serious, but I want to say there is no need to be excessively anxious." As North Korea's nuclear threat intensifies, the idea of 'independent nuclear armament' has been raised in some political circles, but the United States has reinforced its 'extended deterrence' to prevent nuclear attacks on its allies.

In the same day's closed lecture, he introduced the South Korean military's response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, highlighting the strengthening of the U.S. extended deterrence execution capability and the enhancement of the Korean-style 3-axis system. Minister Lee's lecture materials did not mention independent nuclear armament even once. A lawmaker who attended the meeting said, "There was no mention of independent nuclear armament during the lecture," and added, "During the Q&A session, there were no questions on sensitive issues as the minister was in the U.S. at the time."

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Minister Lee's lecture on that day is interpreted to be in line with the context of the South Korean and U.S. leaders preparing a separate statement to codify extended deterrence. The two leaders are expected to announce a separate joint statement containing the so-called 'Korean-style nuclear umbrella,' which strengthens U.S. extended deterrence, following their meeting on the 26th (local time). This will be the first time the two leaders issue a separate document related to extended deterrence after their summit. However, after the lecture, Minister Lee told reporters, "What I am saying is an explanation on a separate topic regardless of the summit," and drew a line by saying, "It should not be linked to the summit."

So far, the People Power Party has argued that stronger alternatives than extended deterrence, such as independent nuclear armament, are necessary. On the 17th, lawmaker Ryu Seong-geol held a forum titled 'South Korea's Independent Nuclear Possession' at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. In his congratulatory speech that day, party leader Kim Ki-hyun said, "We need to start discussions on new measures beyond the existing extended deterrence method of the nuclear umbrella, such as redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons and nuclear sharing," adding, "It is time to send a clear signal that North Korea's nuclear intimidation will end in self-destruction through strengthened retaliatory deterrence beyond the existing deterrence by denial."

However, the Ministry of National Defense has maintained a cautious stance on the independent nuclear armament theory. On the 6th, during a plenary session of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, Minister Lee responded to questions about the high public support for independent nuclear armament by saying, "I believe that the public's hopes and the actual policy implementation should be viewed differently," and added, "It is another issue to follow major policies just because many people want them."

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