S. Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group to hold 2nd meeting in Washington this week

▲ South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (C) poses for a photo with White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell (2nd from L), U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Cara Abercrombie (far L), South Korea's National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong (2nd from R) and Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo at the presidential office in Seoul on July 18, 2023, during the inaugural session of the newly established Nuclear Consultative Group between South Korea and the United States, in this file photo released by the presidential office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-US-nuclear group

S. Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group to hold 2nd meeting in Washington this week

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- The South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) tasked with discussing nuclear and strategic planning between the allies will hold its second session in Washington this week, the presidential office said Tuesday.

The group will meet Friday to discuss "detailed measures" to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's nuclear threat, the office said in a press release.

The meeting will be led by the National Security Councils of the two countries and joined by defense, foreign policy, military and intelligence officials from both sides.

"The upcoming meeting plans to check the directions and progress on the implementation plans discussed at the inaugural session and discuss next-stage plans," the presidential office said. "By doing so, South Korea and the United States are expected to actively implement the Washington Declaration agreed by President Yoon Suk Yeol and President Biden and build strong credibility for the South Korea-U.S. extended deterrence."

The NCG was established under the Washington Declaration adopted by Yoon and Biden during their summit in Washington in April as part of measures to strengthen the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to defending ally South Korea with all of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons.

The inaugural session was held in Seoul in July, led by Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo, U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and NSC Coordinator for Defense Policy and Arms Control Cara Abercrombie.

During that meeting, the two sides established a range of workstreams to bolster nuclear deterrence and response capabilities on the Korean Peninsula.

In particular, the allies discussed "joint planning and execution" of South Korean conventional support to U.S nuclear operations, as well as how to "enhance visibility of" U.S. strategic asset deployments around the Korean Peninsula, a joint statement said.

On the day of the meeting, the U.S. nuclear-capable submarine USS Kentucky made a port call in South Korea's southeastern city of Busan, the first such visit to the country since 1981.

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved