South Korea and the United States have reaffirmed their shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea while strengthening bilateral coordination on nuclear deterrence during the sixth meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group in Seoul, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Friday.
The meeting, held Thursday, brought together senior defense officials from both allies to discuss joint responses to North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and broader regional security challenges.
According to South Korea’s Defense Ministry, the session was co-cha chaired by Kim Hong-cheol, Seoul’s deputy minister for defense policy, and Robert Soofer, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction policy.
The ministry said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the common objective of achieving North Korea’s denuclearization while strengthening policy coordination under the allies’ extended deterrence framework.
Washington also reiterated its commitment to providing robust extended deterrence for South Korea by utilizing the full spectrum of U.S. military capabilities, including its nuclear forces, according to the ministry’s statement.
The renewed pledge comes as North Korea continues expanding its nuclear arsenal and conducting weapons development programs that have heightened security concerns across Northeast Asia.
Extended deterrence has become a central pillar of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, with Washington repeatedly emphasizing that its security commitment includes conventional, missile defense and nuclear capabilities to deter potential aggression from Pyongyang.
The Nuclear Consultative Group was established following the Washington Declaration signed by the leaders of South Korea and the United States in April 2023.
The declaration created a formal consultative mechanism allowing the two allies to coordinate more closely on nuclear planning, strategic deterrence and crisis response while reinforcing the credibility of the U.S. security guarantee to South Korea.
Since its establishment, the consultative body has met regularly to enhance policy coordination and improve readiness against evolving threats posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Thursday’s meeting underscored the allies’ continued determination to maintain close defense cooperation amid persistent tensions on the Korean Peninsula. While both governments continue to pursue the long-term goal of North Korea’s denuclearization, they also emphasized the importance of maintaining a credible deterrent posture to preserve regional stability and reassure allies in the face of ongoing security challenges.
