South Korea, U.S. to Maintain Nuclear Drills Amid Rising Threats From North

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea and the United States will stage tabletop workout routines in Washington subsequent week to enhance operations of American nuclear belongings as a part of efforts to higher counter North Korea’s threats, Seoul’s defence ministry mentioned on Friday.

Nuclear-armed North Korea fired an unprecedented variety of missiles final yr, together with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that might strike wherever within the United States, whereas resuming preparations for its first nuclear check since 2017.

The drills, known as the Deterrence Strategy Committee Tabletop Exercise, are scheduled for Feb. 22 on the Pentagon and can contain senior defence policymakers from each side, the ministry mentioned.

It can be their first such workout routines for the reason that two nations agreed final yr to carry them yearly, as Seoul seeks to bolster confidence in American prolonged deterrence – its navy functionality, particularly nuclear forces, to discourage assaults on its allies.

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The South Korean delegation might be led by Deputy Defence Minister Heo Tae-keun; the U.S. staff might be led by Siddharth Mohandas, deputy assistant defence secretary for East Asia, and Richard Johnson, deputy assistant defence secretary for nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction coverage.

“With a concentrate on North Korea’s nuclear threats, each side may have in-depth discussions on varied measures to strengthen U.S. prolonged deterrence, together with data sharing and session procedures,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.

On Feb. 23, the officers will go to the Kings Bay naval base in Georgia that homes key nuclear submarines.

The allies have mentioned they have been working to spice up joint nuclear planning and implementation in addition to data sharing.

In May, each side’ militaries will stage their very own tabletop workout routines for the primary time, which might be “much more concrete and substantive” than the upcoming programmes.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle)