US reaffirms nuclear security assurances to South Korea

Foreign Minister Park Jin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a joint press conference after their meeting at the State Department in Washington, D.C., Friday (local time). Reuters-Yonhap

Peace without denuclearization is 'fake peace': Seoul's foreign minister

By Kang Seung-woo

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured South Korea of Washington's full security commitment against North Korea's evolving nuclear threats amid growing doubts here over the credibility of Washington's extended deterrence for its ally.

Blinken's remark was made after his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin in Washington, D.C.

"We take extended deterrence very seriously. And just in the last year, we've renewed our working group on extended deterrence. We've engaged in multiple exercises. And we have colleagues who at this very moment are working to strengthen and deepen even further our collaboration on extended deterrence," Blinken said during a joint press conference.

"We are committed to defending the Republic of Korea using the full range of our capabilities ― nuclear, conventional missile defense. So there should be no doubt in anyone's mind, starting with Pyongyang, of our commitment to defend our allies, our partners, our friends and to extended deterrence."

Extended deterrence refers to the commitment to use a full range of capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to deter attacks on allies. The U.S. has provided extended deterrence, also known as the nuclear umbrella, to South Korea since 1991, the year when the U.S. removed all of its nuclear assets from the Korean Peninsula.

However, the modernization of Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs has prompted many in South Koreans to question this commitment to Seoul. Such mounting skepticism has also raised calls for Seoul to develop its own nuclear weapons.

North Korea ended last year with a record number of offensive ballistic missile launches, firing missiles on 38 separate occasions.

Park also reaffirmed the U.S. decision to firmly guarantee its commitment to the defense of South Korea.

"The ROK and the U.S. will continue our watertight coordination to achieve genuine peace on the Korean Peninsula," he said. The ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

"We are committed to strengthening extended deterrence while maintaining a robust combined defense posture. Any provocations by North Korea will be met with a firm and united response," Park added.

This was the second time in less than a week that top U.S. government officials have stressed Washington's nuclear security assurances.

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On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said after his meeting with Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup in Seoul that the U.S. stands firm in its extended deterrence commitment, adding that the allies continue to look for ways to strengthen it.

Foreign Minister Park Jin shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken after signing a memorandum of understanding during an event at the State Department in Washington, D.C., Friday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

North Korea is believed to have fully prepared for its seventh nuclear test, raising doubts about the feasibility of its denuclearization.

However, Park said peace without complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is not real peace.

"Secretary Blinken and I also reaffirmed our unwavering determination to denuclearize North Korea. This is at the forefront and center of our joint efforts to establish sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula. Peace without denuclearization is fake peace," he said.

"North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are a direct and serious a threat to not only (South) Korea but also international peace and security. They undermine the very foundation of the global non-proliferation regime."

In this regard, the foreign minister urged China to play a role in resolving the North Korean issue.

"We agreed that China has the distinct capability and the responsibility to influence Pyongyang's behavior," Park said.

"The denuclearization of North Korea has long been an area of cooperation for China, as well as the ROK and the United States, and it needs to stay that way."

Last year, despite North Korea's repeated violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, the international community failed to hold the reclusive country accountable for its destabilizing acts due to opposition from China and Russia.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance, and the two plan to work to further expand their "global comprehensive strategic alliance," the foreign minister said.

"We will expand the scope of the alliance to become not only a political-military economic partnership, but also to encompass technological and cultural dimensions," he added.

Park also said he and Blinken agreed to focus on issues that benefit South Korean businesses, and reassure and enrich the lives of citizens here in tangible ways.

"From extended deterrence to supply chain stability, to cutting edge technologies and space cooperation, our two governments will continue to enhance strategic communication at all levels across these critical areas," Park added.

Following their bilateral talks at the State Department, Park and Blinken signed an agreement on science and technology cooperation, which, according to State Department spokesperson Ned Price, included new components that will further strengthen the countries' bilateral cooperation and extend the agreement, originally signed in 1999, by 10 years.