April 23, 2024
News

US rules out South Korean nukes as it reaffirms extended deterrence

Pentagon says ROK can continue to count on Washington’s nuclear umbrella and US troops in the region

The Pentagon reiterated its commitment to extended deterrence to counter North Korean “aggression” on Thursday, appearing to reject ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol’s suggestion that South Korea could acquire its own nuclear weapons.

“From a U.S. standpoint, our policy continues to remain focused on the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” U.S. Defense Department spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a press briefing, in response to a question about Yoon’s recent remarks.

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