North Korea warns of enhancing nuclear capabilities in response to US-South Korea deterrence guidelines

North Korea issued a threat on Saturday to enhance its nuclear capabilities and impose severe consequences on the U.S. and South Korea over their newly endorsed defense guidelines, which North Korea perceives as an indication of a plan to invade the country. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sanctioned the joint nuclear deterrence guidelines last Thursday to strengthen their defense against North Korea’s expanding nuclear arsenal. These guidelines were established following a year of collaboration between the two countries to improve information-sharing on nuclear operations and strategize the integration of U.S. nuclear weapons with South Korean conventional arms during emergencies.

In a statement conveyed through state media, North Korea’s Defense Ministry criticized the U.S.-South Korea guidelines, interpreting them as a revelation of their adversaries’ intentions to prepare for a nuclear conflict with North Korea. The statement emphasized the urgent need for North Korea to heighten its nuclear deterrent readiness in response to escalating nuclear threats from its enemies and hinted at the addition of unspecified critical components to strengthen this deterrent. It warned of severe repercussions for the U.S. and South Korea if they persist with provocative actions.

Although specific details concerning the U.S.-South Korean guidelines were undisclosed, analysts suggest that they primarily focus on the coordination of U.S. nuclear capabilities with South Korean conventional forces to address potential crises sparked by North Korean hostilities and provocations. It is anticipated that both countries will devise comprehensive concept and operation strategies based on the guidelines, which will be evaluated through joint military drills.

These guidelines mark the first of their kind between the allies. While the U.S. has repeatedly assured its commitment to safeguard South Korea against North Korean aggression using its full military capacity, there are concerns among South Korean experts about the implementation of this extended deterrence. South Korea itself does not possess nuclear weapons.

North Korea has justified its pursuit of nuclear armaments as a response to perceived nuclear threats from the U.S. and its allies. However, U.S. and South Korean officials have consistently maintained that they harbor no intentions of instigating an attack on North Korea. The apprehension surrounding North Korea’s nuclear program has intensified in recent years due to its series of provocative missile tests and explicit threats to preemptively use nuclear weapons in potential confrontations with its adversaries.