S. Korea, U.S. predict N. Korean provocation around U.S. election

Sep 06, 2024, 10:46 am

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(From left) South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins, Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Cara Abercrombie, and Deputy Minister for Policy Cho Chang-rae pose for a photo after a press conference at the State Department in Washington on Sept. 4, 2024./ Source: Yonhap

AsiaToday reporter Ji Hwan-hyuk

South Korea and the United States assessed that North Korea may engage in a major provocation, such as a nuclear test or an intercontinental ballistic missile launch, near the U.S. presidential election in November. The diplomatic and defense authorities of the two countries held on Wednesday the fifth meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group, or EDSCG, in Washington, where they conducted a scenario-based discussion on North Korea’s nuclear threats.

South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun told reporters after the meeting that the EDSCG discussed a range of possible provocations by Pyongyang and responses around the time of the upcoming U.S. Presidential election. “South Korea and the U.S. are closely watching the possibility of Russia providing advanced technologies and components to North Korea in exchange for the North’s weapons supply and the possibility of a major provocation around the U.S. Presidential election,” Kim said.

“North Korea has not stopped advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities, and recently caused real damage through underhanded provocations, such as GPS signal jamming and the release of balloons filled with waste,” Kim said. “The diplomatic and defense authorities of both countries held in-depth discussions for the first time over six hours on effective deterrence and countermeasures in the event of contingencies, grounded in concrete scenarios.”

The meeting has prepared specific scenarios to enhance mutual understanding and establish a developmental foundation in order to effectively curb and respond to North Korea’s nuclear threat.

In a joint statement, both South Korea and the U.S. reaffirmed that any nuclear attack by North Korea against South Korea will be met with a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response. “Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the U.S. or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime,” the statement said.

#Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group #EDSCG