ROK-US Hold 6th Nuclear Talks, Reaffirm North Korea Denuclearization Goal

South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea during the sixth Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting held in Seoul. The two nations also signed security guidelines to govern their consultations on nuclear deterrence and strategy.

The joint press statement released after the meeting explicitly stated "denuclearization of North Korea" as a common objective. This marks a significant inclusion, as the previous NCG meeting's joint statement did not contain this specific phrase. The meeting was co-chaired by Kim Hong-chul, South Korea's Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy, and Robert Soofer, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation and Defense Policy.

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North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities are advancing, and in response to the changing security environment, we have decided to continue developing the activities of the ROK-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance and extended deterrence.

Both sides emphasized their commitment to strengthening the alliance and extending deterrence in the face of North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and the changing security environment. The U.S. reiterated its commitment to providing extended deterrence, utilizing the full spectrum of its capabilities, including nuclear, to defend South Korea.

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The ROK and the U.S. confirmed our common goal of North Korea's denuclearization.

During the meeting, which followed the fifth NCG session held in December, participants reviewed various measures to enhance the alliance's nuclear deterrence and readiness. These included discussions on information sharing, consultation procedures during nuclear crises, integrated nuclear and conventional (CNI) exercises, and strategic messaging. The concept of CNI involves South Korea supporting U.S.-led nuclear operations with its conventional forces.

Officials agreed to report the outcomes of this meeting to their respective ministers at the upcoming 58th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM). They also approved plans for the seventh NCG meeting and other key activities for the latter half of the year, underscoring the ongoing and evolving nature of their strategic dialogue.

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The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to provide extended deterrence to the Republic of Korea, utilizing the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear.