Austin in South Korea as Yoon seeks higher U.S. nuclear assurances

By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) – The defence chiefs of the US and South Korea will maintain talks on Tuesday in Seoul as Washington seeks to reassure a key Asian ally over its nuclear dedication amid rising threats from North Korea.

U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Seoul on Monday and is ready to fulfill South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup on Tuesday, following their annual safety talks in November in Washington.

The newest assembly comes as South Korea pushes to bolster confidence in American prolonged deterrence – its navy functionality, particularly nuclear forces, to discourage assaults on its allies.

Nuclear-armed North Korea launched an unprecedented variety of missiles final yr, together with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) able to reaching the U.S. mainland. Officers from either side have additionally warned Pyongyang may very well be making ready for its first check of a nuclear system since 2017.

The North’s evolving threats had additionally revived calls from some politicians and specialists in South Korea for bringing again U.S. tactical nuclear weapons and even growing its personal nuclear programmes, although Seoul officers dismissed such a risk.

Austin mentioned his journey was geared toward deepening cooperation to sort out shared safety challenges and reaffirm the U.S. prolonged deterrence dedication to South Korea is “ironclad” at a “time of heightened rigidity and provocation.”

“That is why the US and the ROK are taking clear, significant steps to modernise and strengthen our alliance,” Austin mentioned in a particular op-ed launch on Tuesday by Yonhap information company, referring to South Korea by the initials of its official identify, the Republic of Korea.

“So our adversaries and opponents know that in the event that they problem certainly one of us, they’re difficult the U.S.-ROK alliance as an entire,” he added.

Lee has mentioned the 2 international locations will maintain nuclear tabletop workout routines in February below the state of affairs of North Korea’s nuclear assaults, as a part of efforts to enhance joint nuclear planning and implementation and enhance data sharing.

Austin mentioned the workout routines are in keeping with the allies’ talks to increase prolonged deterrence actions and mechanisms on the peninsula and within the area.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Modifying by Lincoln Feast.)