US Defense Secretary Nominee: "North Korea is a Nuclear Power... Reassessing US Military Posture in the Indo-Pacific Region"

Pete Hegseth, nominated as Secretary of Defense in the second Trump administration launching on the 20th, referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power" and stated that it poses a threat to stability in the Indo-Pacific and the world. There are expectations that the second Trump administration may pursue North Korea-US nuclear negotiations. Hegseth indicated intentions to reassess the posture of US forces deployed in the Indo-Pacific region and worldwide, as well as to push for increased defense spending by allies and partners.

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On the 14th (local time), Hegseth submitted a written response to the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, stating, "North Korea's status as a nuclear power, the increased missile range capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and its growing cyber capabilities pose a threat to the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region, and ultimately global stability."

Until now, the US government has refrained from using the term "nuclear power" to describe North Korea. This is because it could be perceived as acknowledging and accepting North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, which it has developed illegally in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

However, with Hegseth referring to North Korea as a nuclear power, there is speculation that the second Trump administration might engage in direct nuclear negotiations with North Korea on this premise. It is anticipated that negotiations could focus on nuclear freeze and disarmament rather than complete denuclearization. Previously, during his first term, President Trump actively engaged in North Korea-US dialogue, meeting North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un three times.

Regarding the US military posture in the Indo-Pacific region, Hegseth stated, "We must consider the urgency of reestablishing deterrence in light of China's historic and rapid military buildup," and added, "We need to accelerate efforts to strengthen our force posture and expand operational capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region." He further explained, "If confirmed, I will review our posture in the Indo-Pacific and prioritize efforts to advance these initiatives."

When asked whether he supports efforts to strengthen the US Forces Japan command and control structure with Japan, he responded, "Developing joint warfighting capabilities with Japan and improving interoperability will significantly enhance our deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific region," and pledged to work on finding an appropriate command and control structure.

To counter China, Hegseth emphasized, "It is important to forward-deploy relevant forces and establish an anti-access/area denial defense system in the Western Pacific."

He also clearly expressed his intention to push for increased defense spending burdens from allies and partners. This aligns with President Trump's demands for increased defense spending from South Korea, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and others.

He said, "If confirmed, I will direct the Department of Defense to reassess how we are developing healthy alliances and partnerships," adding, "Increasing defense spending and burden-sharing by allies and partners is crucial to ensuring our relationships are not one-sided." He continued, "Our allies and partners understand that the United States will continue to emphasize that strong and healthy alliances cannot be one-sided (benefit provision)," stressing, "Otherwise, the foundation of mutual trust will erode."

Following the launch of the second Trump administration, there is an expectation of possible changes in the scale of US forces deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, including the potential increase of South Korea's defense cost-sharing (costs for US Forces Korea).

Additionally, Hegseth stated, "The United States maintains a strong alliance system worldwide," and "Mutual defense based on shared interests with allies and partners creates a strategic advantage that overwhelms adversaries."

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