Rotational deployment of U.S. strategic assets could play a greater deterrence against growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, the defense ministry said Monday.
"If U.S. strategic assets are deployed permanently in South Korea, it, in principle, will be of a great help in terms of extended deterrence against the North's provocations," Moon Sang-gyun, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said in a regular briefing.
The U.S. has temporarily sent strategic assets, such as nuclear-capable B-52 and B-1B bombers, to South Korea this year in a show of force following the North's two nuclear tests and a series of missile launches. However, perceptions have grown among South Koreans that such one-off missions are not enough.
At the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held in Washington last week, the allies' defense chiefs discussed many options, including permanent deployment of U.S. strategic assets on a rotational basis, to provide extended deterrence to Washington's key Asian ally.
"Extended deterrence" refers to the commitment to use nuclear weapons, if the need arises, to deter attacks on allies. The U.S. has provided extended deterrence and the "nuclear umbrella" to South Korea since 1991.
Permanently deploying U.S. strategic assets on a rotational basis means keeping at least one such asset in, over or around South Korea at any given time. Such deployment would not only reassure South Koreans of the U.S. defense commitment, but serve as a strong warning and deterrent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The issue of deploying U.S. strategic assets to the South will be discussed further at the high-level dialogue known as the "Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group” (EDSCG), he said.
The EDSCG was established in Washington in alliance talks last week when the two sides' foreign and defense ministers gathered to discuss security and defense issues.
As for the planned arrival of a senior U.S. diplomat in South Korea later this week, Moon said, "He is expected to meet with (Yoo Jeh-seung) deputy minister for policy at the defense ministry."
Frank Rose, assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance, will be in Seoul on Friday and Saturday for meetings with officials from South Korea's government and U.S. Forces Korea to discuss arms control, international security and strategic stability, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
The department didn't elaborate, but his meetings are sure to touch on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) issue.
In July, Seoul and Washington announced their decision to deploy a THAAD battery to South Korea to better defend against the North's nuclear and missile threats. The system is scheduled to be installed here by 2017. (Yonhap)