The United States and South Korea are preparing “an effective and coordinated response to a range of scenarios, including North Korea’s use of a nuclear weapon,” a White House National Security Council spokesman said on Tuesday (3).
However, the source clarified that these preparations would not include “joint nuclear exercises” as South Korea is not armed with nuclear weapons.
“The United States fully supports the alliance with South Korea and provides the country with a comprehensive deterrent capability,” he said.
The comments came after South Korean President Yoon Sukyeol said the US “nuclear umbrella” and its “enhanced deterrence” were no longer sufficient to reassure his country in the face of North Korean threats.
In Seoul, Yoon’s office said in a statement that the two governments are “in talks on informationsharing, joint planning and implementation of the operation of US nuclear facilities in response to North Korea’s nuclear weapons.”
The statements made by Washington and Seoul are aimed at North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, who last Sunday called for an “exponential increase in North Korea’s nuclear arsenal”.
For its part, the Workers’ Party of North Korea announced that the country will “develop a new ICBM system, the main task of which will be a rapid nuclear counterattack,” according to the official KCNA news agency.
A senior US official acknowledged that “North Korea’s actions and statements are a cause for growing concern.”
He also said the United States and South Korea would “work together to reinforce deterrence posture,” which would include “simulations” of how to respond to a North Korean nuclear attack.
The Pentagon is very clear on its “nuclear stance”. A document setting the norms for the use of nuclear weapons states that “any nuclear attack by North Korea on the United States or its allies and partners would be unacceptable and would spell the end of the regime.”
“There is no chance that the Kim regime can survive the use of nuclear weapons,” the document adds.
Seoul and Washington say Pyongyang is soon preparing for a new nuclear test that would be the seventh in its history and the first since 2017.