The U.S. began a policy of permanent control by establishing a “nuclear consultative body” in South Korea and Japan, and a Korea-U.S. summit was announced to resolve conflicts over forced labor.
Yomiuri reported on the 8th from Washington, citing a US-Japanese official, that the Biden administration had approached the Japanese and Korean governments to establish a new consultative body for nuclear deterrence.
"We are discussing a new consultation mechanism for a nuclear deterrence against North Korea to better understand strategic operations and plans," U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Eli Ratner said on the 8th.
In a statement held next month at the Korea-US summit, White House spokeswoman Carine Jean-Pierre said, "We will emphasize the importance and enduring strength of the iron-clad ROK-US alliance and the unwavering commitment of the United States to Korea," using Korea as an abbreviation. "We will discuss a common resolution to deepen and expand security and people-to-people ties," he said.
Regarding the new nuclear organization, Yomiuri said, “The Japanese government is actively reviewing consultations, believing that it will lead to strengthening nuclear deterrence, and is closely watching the fate of the lawsuit against former conscripted workers (civilian workers from the Korean Peninsula), which is the most pending issue between Korea and Japan. With the South Korean government’s announcement of a solution on the 6th, I think an environment for strengthening security cooperation between Japan, the United States, and South Korea is being prepared.”
Regarding the announcement of President Yoon’s invitation next month, a New York Times reporter in charge of the White House said, “It is an invitation to announce the importance of Korea in the administration’s efforts to counter the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear program and China’s rise.” “President Biden’s second invitation ( The fact that he received a state guest) tells the degree of cooperation that President Biden expects on issues related to North Korea and China.”
Regarding the new Nuclear Consultative Body, Yomiuri said, "It will be permanently established among the three countries upgraded from bilateral consultations to deepen discussions on nuclear deterrence policy and strengthen information sharing on US nuclear forces." It was proposed to establish a system of cooperation on training and other issues, and to introduce a mechanism to judge the response based on consultations with Japan and South Korea in case of emergency.”
Yomiuri continued, “Members and specific themes will be confirmed later. NATO has a Nuclear Program Group, a ministerial-level consultative body on nuclear deterrence established in 1966 during the Cold War, and Washington is a member of NATO’s structure. We are ready to proceed with discussions with Japan and South Korea regarding this.”
Regarding the nuclear deterrence policy, Yomiuri said, “Russia, which invaded Ukraine, is threatening the United States and Europe with the threat of using nuclear weapons. North Korea has also repeatedly provocations with nuclear weapons as if inspired, and South Korea is spreading the theory of independent nuclear armament.” "The United States is trying to contain these developments in East Asia by strengthening information sharing with Japan and South Korea about the nuclear forces it possesses," he said. did.
Regarding the gap between Korea and Japan on nuclear policy, “Japan and South Korea have slightly different positions on nuclear deterrence. South Korea expressed interest in discussing the use of nuclear weapons in case of contingency to build a practical nuclear deterrent, while Japan, on the other hand, as the only country to have suffered an atomic bomb, said Prime Minister Kishida wants not to increase US involvement in nuclear weapons decisions. “Japan and South Korea share common security issues with North Korea, but South Korea, Japan and the United States have a lot to coordinate to make their consultative bodies stable and functional, relying heavily on China as China rapidly expands its nuclear arsenal.” There is a problem,” he said, including control of Korea in the function of consultation with China.
Regarding the invitation from the White House, the New York Times said, “He (President Yoon) said in an interview with the New York Times in September of last year, ‘I will pursue predictability, and Korea will take a clearer stance regarding US-China relations.” and other countries supported Ukraine during the Russian invasion, boosting military arms production as stockpiles were depleted.” After Yun's election, South Korea joined the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a group of 14 countries seen as a bulwark against China in the race to secure global supply chains, and also the United States, Japan, and the United States. They agreed to attend preliminary talks on a technology alliance known as 'Chip 4' with Taiwan.”