{"id":2203153,"date":"2023-12-18T08:00:08","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T23:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2203153"},"modified":"2023-12-17T20:21:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-17T11:21:51","slug":"washington-and-seoul-rush-to-cement-nuclear-pact-before-2024-us-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/12\/washington-and-seoul-rush-to-cement-nuclear-pact-before-2024-us-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington and Seoul rush to cement nuclear pact before 2024 US elections"},"content":{"rendered":"
The U.S. and the ROK <\/span>agreed<\/span><\/a> Friday to finalize guidelines for a joint nuclear strategy by mid-2024, according to South Korea\u2019s principal deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo. This decision was taken during the second <\/span>Nuclear Consultative Group<\/span><\/a> (NCG) meeting at the Pentagon. The guidelines will cover sharing sensitive nuclear information, security system establishment, nuclear crisis consultation procedures and operation of a real-time leader-level communication channel.<\/span><\/p>\n The NCG session, which lasted over seven hours, also saw agreement on incorporating nuclear operation scenarios into the 2024 military exercises, including Ulchi Freedom Shield. Additionally, the U.S. has committed to providing \u201cin-depth\u201d nuclear education to South Korean officials next year. The third NCG meeting is scheduled to be held in South Korea next summer as part of the ongoing efforts under the Washington Declaration to enhance the credibility of extended deterrence against North Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n The agreement between the U.S. and South Korea to finalize joint nuclear strategy guidelines by mid-2024 signifies a joint effort to enhance deterrence capabilities in response to North Korea\u2019s evolving <\/span>nuclear and missile threats<\/span><\/a>. This initiative, part of the NCG, is an ongoing effort by Washington to reassure Seoul of its commitment to South Korea\u2019s defense. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol <\/span>remarked<\/span><\/a> early this year about South Korea developing its own nuclear weapons before the two countries committed to the <\/span>Washington Declaration<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Setting the deadline to finalize guidelines for a joint nuclear strategy before the U.S. presidential elections in Nov. 2024 suggests Washington and Seoul intend to establish a defense framework resilient to potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy, which could arise if Donald Trump returns to office.<\/span><\/p>\n