The United States and South Korea issued a joint statement on Saturday, sternly warning North Korea against any nuclear attacks on either nation or their allies.
The statement emphasized that any nuclear aggression by North Korea would be met with a “swift, overwhelming, and decisive response,” clearly indicating the severe consequences such actions would have for the Kim regime.
On Friday, the US and South Korea held the second US-Republic of Korea Nuclear Consultative Group session in Washington. They announced plans to develop joint guidelines on nuclear defence strategy by the middle of next year.
The strategy aims to establish an integrated system for deterring North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. As per reports from the Yonhap news agency, these guidelines will include sharing sensitive information on North Korea’s nuclear activities, consultation processes for nuclear crises, and establishing direct communication channels between the two countries’ leaders.
Amidst these developments, there are concerns that North Korea might test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this month. Such a launch is considered a significant nuclear threat, given the potential of these missiles to carry nuclear warheads. These missiles could reach targets across South Korea, Japan, and even the US mainland.
In response, the US and South Korea are expected to include nuclear operation exercises in their joint military drills next year, further strengthening their preparedness against potential threats from North Korea.
