US Shifts Defense Strategy, Transfers Primary Deterrence Role for North Korea to South Korea
The United States has announced a shift in its defense strategy, intending to play a "more limited" role in deterring nuclear-powered North Korea and transferring primary responsibility to South Korea. This change was detailed in a Pentagon policy document, the National Defense Strategy, released on Friday.
The document states that South Korea is capable of assuming primary responsibility for deterring North Korea, with the US providing critical but more limited support. This aligns with America's interest in updating its force posture on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea's Growing Defense Capabilities
South Korea currently hosts approximately 28,500 US troops as part of a combined defense against North Korea's military threat. Seoul has increased its defense budget by 7.5 percent this year and has grown its defense capabilities significantly over the past two decades, with a more than 35 percent increase in spending over the last 10 years.
South Korea aims to achieve war-time command of the combined US-South Korean forces, currently maintaining a troop strength of about 450,000.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised South Korea's plans for increased military spending during a visit to Seoul last November.
Broader US Strategic Interests
In recent years, US officials have indicated a desire for US forces in South Korea to operate more flexibly beyond the Korean Peninsula, potentially addressing a broader range of threats, such as defending Taiwan and countering China's growing military influence.
The National Defense Strategy prioritizes defending the US homeland and, in the Indo-Pacific region, focuses on preventing China from dominating the United States or its allies, aiming for a "decent peace" that both nations can accept. The document did not explicitly name Taiwan.
Recent Tensions and Dialogue Efforts
Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un approved the launch of multiple ballistic missiles. Despite renewed calls from Washington to resume dialogue, Pyongyang has not directly responded. The Korean War concluded in 1953 with an armistice, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war and separated by the Demilitarized Zone.
During a recent visit to the US, South Korea Prime Minister Kim Min-seok discussed with US Vice-President JD Vance how Washington could improve ties with North Korea, suggesting the consideration of a special envoy to Pyongyang.