June 03, 2023
Analysis

Jumping the gun: South Korea’s mixed messaging on Japan and nuke planning talks

A nuclear consulting group between US, ROK and Japan difficult pill to swallow in Seoul despite potential benefits

Over the past few days, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has delivered mixed messages on whether it wants to include Japan in its new Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) with the U.S. 

Presidents Yoon Suk-yeol and Joe Biden announced the NCG during their summit in Washington last month to “strengthen extended deterrence, discuss nuclear and strategic planning and manage the threat to the nonproliferation regime” posed by North Korea.