The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Netflix apologizes for filming 'Single's Inferno 3' in marine sanctuary

  • 3

    In-N-Out Burger pop-up store attracts record crowd

  • 5

    Calls grow for female flight attendants to ditch skirts for pants

  • 7

    Hamburger franchises having trouble in M&A market

  • 9

    Pyongyang seeks to portray rocket as science effort by admitting failure: experts

  • 11

    Small business owners urge stricter rules on migrant workers switching jobs

  • 13

    From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June

  • 15

    Nexon case reignites controversy over high level of inheritance tax

  • 17

    S. Korea succeeds in L-SAM missile interception test for 3rd time

  • 19

    INTERVIEWFrench photographer highlights amazing transformations of dog meat farm survivors

  • 2

    BTS' RM named honorary ambassador of war-remains excavation agency

  • 4

    'BLACKPINK the Game' showcases group's unique charm

  • 6

    EXO's Baekhyun, Xiumin and Chen in dispute with SM over contract issue

  • 8

    Hallyu inspires Thailand to mull ways to export its culture

  • 10

    Man gets five-year jail term for K-pop concert ticket fraud

  • 12

    Police send girlfriend murder suspect to prosecution

  • 14

    Pandas at Everland become tourist magnet

  • 16

    Transgender cyclist looks to spark debate in historic appearance

  • 18

    Suspect in grisly Busan murder sent to prosecutors for further probe

  • 20

    JYP to expand partnership with US music label

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Sat, June 3, 2023 | 01:09
Editorial
Take detailed steps
Posted : 2022-05-23 17:25
Updated : 2022-05-23 17:37
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
US commits to strengthening deterrence against North

President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden have agreed to step up joint efforts to deter increasing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. For this, the two leaders have pledged to expand combined military exercises and reactivate the suspended Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) at the earliest date.

According to a joint statement adopted during their summit on Saturday, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to deploy its strategic military assets in the event of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula. This commitment is a step in the right direction as North Korea has refused to stop its provocative acts. Pyongyang has even threatened to use its nuclear arsenal beyond its purpose of deterrence.

"Both leaders agree to initiate discussions to expand the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training on and around the Korean Peninsula," the statement said. Biden reaffirmed the U.S.' "extended deterrence" commitment to South Korea, vowing to use the "full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities."

What is most noteworthy is that the two leaders used the word "nuclear" to refer to U.S. capabilities to respond to the North's military threats. It is the first time the two nations have included this expression in a joint summit statement. Also meaningful is the reactivation of the EDSCG, a consultative body comprising high-level foreign affairs and security officials from the two countries to discuss deterrence steps. The allies plan to convene a meeting of the EDSCG soon to discuss details over the envisaged expansion of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises against possible threats from the North.

In a show of solidarity, the two leaders visited the Korean Air and Space Operations Center (KAOC) at Osan Air Base to meet with U.S. and South Korean troops stationed there. Yoon said, "This is the place symbolizing the Korea-U.S. alliance." The two leaders virtually sent a strong warning to the North, which has so far this year conducted 16 missile tests, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Yet, the two leaders failed to mention the 2018 Panmunjeom Declaration or the Singapore Joint Statement which were included in the May 2021 joint statement of the summit between Biden and then South Korean President Moon Jae-in. But this does not necessarily mean that the two allies are neglecting the peace initiatives the previous Moon administration had pushed for. Yoon and Biden said that the path to dialogue remains open toward peaceful and diplomatic resolution with the North. Yoon reaffirmed an audacious plan to revive the moribund North Korean economy and improve its people's living standards should it take substantive steps toward denuclearization.

However, there are concerns that the allies' move for further deterrence could increase tension on the peninsula and prompt a military buildup. Yoon and Biden urged North Korea to return to the dialogue table. They should also double down on inducing the North to resume the talks.

The two allies have also offered humanitarian aid to the North to help it fight the COVID-19 pandemic, while expressing concerns about the human rights situation in the reclusive country. It is necessary for the Kim Jong-un regime to stop its nuclear and missile programs and take the path toward peace and prosperity, instead of hostility and confrontation.


 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1More banks offer daily interest payments on deposits More banks offer daily interest payments on deposits
2Hyundai Elevator launches AI, IoT-powered maintenance service Hyundai Elevator launches AI, IoT-powered maintenance service
3Roland Garros 2023 Roland Garros 2023
4Airlines fiercely compete to acquire additional aircraft Airlines fiercely compete to acquire additional aircraft
5Seoul imposes sanctions on North Korean hacking group for role in space launch Seoul imposes sanctions on North Korean hacking group for role in space launch
6LG Chem joins Korean firms strengthening ties with Japan LG Chem joins Korean firms strengthening ties with Japan
7HMM tasked with preventing sale of Hyundai LNG to foreign firm HMM tasked with preventing sale of Hyundai LNG to foreign firm
8Korean stocks feared to lose steam on prolonged trade deficit, real estate doldrums Korean stocks feared to lose steam on prolonged trade deficit, real estate doldrums
9POSCO, GM expand joint EV battery materials investment in North America POSCO, GM expand joint EV battery materials investment in North America
10Indo-Pacific region highlighted as important for Korean economy's futureIndo-Pacific region highlighted as important for Korean economy's future
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
2How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging
3From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June
4[INTERVIEW] Lee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out' INTERVIEWLee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out'
5'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema 'Elemental' director on bringing his personal story of immigration to cinema
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group