The top diplomats from the U.S. and South Korea emphasized the importance of extended deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats on Friday, a message the allies have sought to reinforce in recent weeks amid growing talk of South Korean nuclearization. 

“We reaffirmed our commitment to improving our allied defense against common threats, as well as our commitment to defending the Republic of Korea using the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a joint press briefing after their meeting.

Blinken also stressed the need for