US Military Conducts First Nuclear Training in South Korea

Key Takeaways

First nuclear training by US Army in South Korea.
Course held April 15-16 at Strategic Command.
Focus on conventional-nuclear integration.
Involvement of US Army Nuclear Agency.
Over 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea.

Seoul, April 23 (NationPress) The US Army has conducted a training event in South Korea focused on enhancing the ability to operate efficiently in a nuclear environment for the first time, as announced by the US Forces Korea (USFK) on Wednesday.

This two-day course, which took place at South Korea's Strategic Command in Seoul from April 15-16, is considered a move to strengthen the allies' collective deterrence against North Korea's nuclear threats.

Led by the US Army Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Agency (USANCA), the training was tailored for the South Korean military and involved 13 personnel from South Korea, including six staff members from the Strategic Command.

The USFK stated that, "This provision of Nuclear Weapon Effects Course - Korea emphasizes the crucial role ROK forces play in promoting conventional-nuclear integration within the ROK-US Alliance." ROK refers to the acronym for South Korea's official name.

Moreover, the training material is directly relevant to Alliance tabletop exercises and wargames that focus on conventional-nuclear integration, enhancing the strategic comprehension of the combined joint force.

In August of the previous year, the allies completed their inaugural tabletop exercise, "Iron Mace 24," which focused on integrating nuclear and conventional capabilities, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

Efforts to address North Korea's evolving nuclear threats have intensified between South Korea and the United States. During annual bilateral defense discussions in October last year, the allies agreed to incorporate "realistic" scenarios, including a North Korean nuclear strike, into future combined military drills.

Currently, over 28,500 US military personnel are stationed in South Korea, collaborating closely with the South Korean military and United Nations Command member nations to deter and defend against threats from North Korea, while also upholding the Korean Armistice Agreement.

To deter provocations and attacks from the DPRK, the US-South Korea Alliance maintains a robust defensive military stance, which encompasses annual combined exercises, substantial military sales, and consistent reaffirmations of the United States’ dedication to the security of South Korea through a lasting combined command structure and strong, consultative relationships between senior US and South Korean leadership on security matters.