S.Korea-U.S. to Set Down Nuclear Deterrence in Writing

The South Korean and the U.S. governments plan to deter a North Korean nuclear attack by means of nuclear force, conventional force and missile defense. The plan is to be set down in a resolution concluding the 41st South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting.

In working-level negotiations about an extended deterrence plan that the U.S. promised South Korea, the two countries agreed to set it down Thursday, a government source said.

The concept of extended deterrence was first proposed in written form at the South Korea-U.S. summit in June. If signs of North Korea's possible use of nuclear weapons are detected, the U.S. will promptly provide South Korea with aircraft, submarine, and airplane carriers equipped with nuclear weapons as well as conventional arms to deter provocations. In case of real use of nuclear weapons by North Korea, the U.S. will shoot them down in mid-air with the missile defense system.