US and South Korea discussing possibility of joint nuclear exercise

Asia-Pacific, News, US January 3, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has said that Washington and Seoul are discussing a possibility of a joint nuclear exercise involving U.S. nuclear assets.

During an interview with a local newspaper, Yoon said that “the nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but planning, information sharing, exercises, and training should be jointly conducted by South Korea and the United States.” He further added that the exercises would be aimed at more effective implementation of “extended deterrence.”

Yoon highlighted that South Korea to conduct a nuclear exercise with the U.S. to enhance its readiness against the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

Yoon’s remarks come only a day after North Korean state media reported that its leader Kim Jong Un has called on its experts to start working on the new generation of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and announced to increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal at an exponential rate to counter what he termed as hostility from the U.S. and South Korea.

The announcement comes at a time when tensions between North Korea and South Korea are at their peak as North continues its missile tests. Despite heavy sanctions on its military and weapons development programs, North Korea conducted a barrage of missile tests in recent months, including a launch test for its most advanced and largest Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM).

In 2022, North Korea fired about 100 cruise and ballistic missiles, demonstrating its range of missiles and weapons development as experts warn that the isolated country is on its way to conducting its seventh nuclear test.

North Korea is racing to enhance its nuclear capabilities as well as missile-making technologies. The year 2022 saw an immense increase in short-range and long-range missile testing from North Korea. Kim also said last week that South Korea has now become an “undoubted enemy” as he rolled out new military goals, hinting at another year of intensive weapon tests and increasing tensions.

^{U.S. and South Korea firing a tactical missile from an undisclosed location on South Korea’s east coast during a live-fire exercise in response to North Korea’s missile test. (Image Credit: AFP)}

Since taking the office in May 2022, South Korean President Yoon has kept a strong stance against its neighbor in the north. However, the tensions between the two sides reached their peak around the end of the year when North Korea carried out frequent missile tests while the South Korean military routinely took part in joint military exercises in the region, mostly with the U.S. forces.

Separately on December 28, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol approved a $440 million plan to improve its military’s capability to counter drones. The announcement came from the ministry of defense, two days after five North Korean drones breached into South Korean border, which led to an accident and destruction of a South Korean KA-1 light attack aircraft.

South Korean military scrambled its jets and helicopter after five North Korean drones crossed the border to enter South’s aerial territories. However, despite firing at least 100 rounds, the South Korean military failed to shoot down the drones through anti-aircraft guns. Under the newly approved budget, South Korea plans to spend $261 billion on its defense until 2027. The country plans to gradually increase its defense budget at an annual rate of 6.8 percent.