Yonhap News Agency:
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Friday that it will “flexibly” handle the issue of the deployment of U.S strategic arms to Korea and its plan to establish a key defense system in line with progress in North Korea’s denuclearization.
The remarks during a parliamentary audit spawned speculation that it could desist from requesting a U.S. show of force with formidable assets, such as nuclear-capable bombers and aircraft carriers, and scale back its envisioned “three-axis” system.
The three-axis system, the centerpiece of efforts to counter the North’s nuclear and missile threats, consists of Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, an operational plan to incapacitate the North Korean leadership in a major conflict; the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike platform; and the Korea Air and Missile Defense system.
“In line with the changes in the security environment and with progress in North Korea’s denuclearization, we will flexibly review the deployment of U.S. strategic assets and the three-axis system,” the JCS said.
