U.S. and South Korea Eye Potential North Korean Provocations Before November Election

South Korea and the United States are closely monitoring the possibility that North Korea might carry out significant provocations before the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November. They have discussed how to respond if such provocations occur.

According to Yonhap News, the 5th high-level meeting of the U.S.-South Korea Extended Deterrence Strategy Consultative Group (EDSCG) occurred on Wednesday at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. Attendees included South Korea’s First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kim Hong Kyun; Defense Ministry’s Director of Defense Policy, Cho Chang Rae; U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Bonnie Jenkins; and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Cara Abercrombie.

There is growing international concern that North Korea may escalate tensions by conducting a seventh nuclear test or launching an intercontinental ballistic missile to influence the upcoming U.S. election.

The discussions focused on strategies to deter and respond to various North Korean nuclear threats. This included cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, space, cyber, and biochemistry, as well as effective communication of messages related to North Korea and multilateral forums for extended deterrence.

Vice Minister Kim highlighted that North Korea continues to enhance its nuclear and missile capabilities and has recently carried out provocations like GPS jamming and distributing propaganda balloons. Given this, he noted that it’s still possible North Korea could engage in severe provocations around the U.S. election.

Kim stressed that the best way to address North Korea’s nuclear threat is to strengthen extended deterrence. He pointed out that South Korea and the U.S. will continue to work together on this through the U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) and EDSCG, established under the Washington Declaration.

However, he made it clear that South Korea is not considering nuclear armament, stating, “Deploying tactical nuclear weapons and nuclear armament is not the South Korean government’s position.”