By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) — The United States and South Korea agree on the need to further strengthen U.S. extended deterrence, a U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson said Tuesday, also reaffirming U.S. commitment to deploy strategic resources in the South. Korea by rotation. .
Brig’s remarks. General Pat Ryder comes after the countries held a Deterrence Strategy Committee table-top exercise (DSC TTX) aimed at strengthening their joint deterrence against North Korean nuclear threats.
U.S. Department of Defense Press Secretary Brig. General Pat Ryder answers a question during a daily press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington on February 28, 2023 in this captured image. (Yonhap)
“We had a fruitful discussion on various approaches to the alliance’s deterrence posture and response posture to the evolving nuclear and missile capabilities of the DPRK,” the department’s press secretary told about the tabletop exercise that was held here in Washington last week. , referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“At the end of this tabletop exercise, both sides agreed on the need to continue to strengthen extended deterrence, including through strong consultative mechanisms for crisis communications, as well as information sharing and planning. and joint execution,” he added.
Ryder, however, said he had nothing to announce when asked about his future plans.
Cho Tae-yong, South Korea’s ambassador to the United States, said on Monday that the countries had agreed to hold follow-up drills in the near future.
The Pentagon spokesman also declined to comment when asked if the United States plans to deploy more strategic assets to South Korea following unprecedented North Korean missile tests.
Still, he pointed to security pledges made by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during his trip to Seoul late last month.
“You heard our senior leaders, including Secretary Austin, stress that we were going to be rotating strategic assets in the region and in South Korea in support of extended deterrence,” he said. said at a press conference. “But I have no details to provide.”
North Korea launched 69 ballistic missiles last week, marking a new record for ballistic missiles fired in a given year. Its previous annual high was 25.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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