US, SKorea Agree to Extended Deterrence Against Possible Nuke Threat

The United States and South Korea have agreed to strengthen extended deterrence against any potential nuclear threats from North Korea, a Pentagon official said Tuesday.

Also, the U.S. has committed to deploying strategic assets to South Korea on a rotational basis.

The developments came on the heels of the countries holding a Deterrence Strategy Committee Table-Top Exercise at the Pentagon on Feb. 22.

Such exercises involve key personnel from each side discussing simulated situations, such as the possibility of North Korea using a nuclear weapon.

"We did conduct a successful discussion in regard to various approaches on the alliance deterrence posture and response posture in the face of [North Korea's] evolving nuclear and missile capabilities," Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a briefing Tuesday.

Ryder continued: "But coming out of that tabletop exercise, both sides concurred on the need to continue to strengthen extended deterrence, including through robust consultative mechanisms and crisis communication, as well as information sharing and joint planning and execution."

The press secretary said he didn’t have information on future exercises between the countries, but Cho Tae-yong, South Korea’s ambassador to the U.S., said Monday the two nations have agreed to hold follow-up exercises in the near future, the Korea Times reported.

North Korea has ramped up testing of short-range and intercontinental-ballistic missiles, and long-range cruise missiles over the past year, with its latest test launch of long-range cruise missiles taking place Friday off its east coast.

The USS Springfield attack submarine, part of the U.S. 7th Fleet, arrived in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday, according to the 7th Fleet's Twitter account.

Ryder was asked if that represents a signal the U.S. would be sending more strategic assets to South Korea.

"I don't have anything to announce," said Ryder. "You've heard our senior leadership, to include [Defense] Secretary [Lloyd] Austin, highlight the fact that we will be on a rotational basis, deploying strategic assets into the region and to South Korea, in support of extended deterrence, but I don't have any specifics to provide."

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