By Jun Ji-hye
Defense Minister Han Min-koo and Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se left for Washington, Tuesday, for talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Secretary of State John Kerry, on North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
During the meeting, scheduled for Wednesday local time, the top defense and foreign affairs officials will discuss extended deterrence and measures to enhance the two countries’ joint defensive posture, according to officials here.
Extended deterrence refers to Washington’s stated commitment to defend its ally by mobilizing all military capabilities ― nuclear and conventional ― to cope with the North’s aggression and provocations.
Officials noted that they would also discuss fresh sanctions against Pyongyang as the regime has been showing no signs of abandoning its nuclear ambitions.
On Thursday, Han and Carter will lead the allies’ annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), a gathering of high-ranking defense and foreign affairs officials from the two countries, which will focus on military measures to respond to evolving threats from the North.
In 2016 alone, the reclusive state has conducted two nuclear tests and launched more than 20 ballistic missiles despite warnings by the international community.
On Saturday, Pyongyang launched what was presumed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), though it exploded soon after liftoff, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The IRBMs, believed to have a range of 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers, are in theory capable of striking U.S. naval and air bases in Guam.
Observers say there is a possibility that the two nations will also discuss whether South Korea can develop and deploy a nuclear-powered attack submarine, given that the ruling Saenuri Party strongly asked the government, Tuesday, to consider its development to better deter the mounting threat of North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles.