Seoul Defends Extended Deterrence as 'Responsible Duty' Amid North Korea's Criticism

South Korea's Presidential Office has defended the ongoing cooperation on extended deterrence with the United States, calling it a "responsible government's duty" to protect its citizens. The statement was issued in direct response to North Korea's strong objections to a joint declaration made during the recent US-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting.

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US-ROK extended deterrence cooperation is the duty of a responsible government to protect the people's lives and safety.

Pyongyang had vehemently criticized the NCG's reaffirmation of denuclearization as a shared goal, with its Foreign Ministry spokesperson declaring that denuclearization was a "closed issue" and reasserting the country's status as a nuclear power. North Korea further characterized the enhanced US-ROK security cooperation as "nuclear threat cooperation."

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This is fully in line with international non-proliferation regimes and norms, including the NPT.

Seoul, however, maintains that its commitment to extended deterrence aligns with international norms, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). A presidential office official emphasized that the government is striving for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through peaceful coexistence and joint growth. The statement underscored that denuclearization remains a consistent objective of the international community, as confirmed by numerous UN Security Council resolutions.

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Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a consistent goal of the international community.