The United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) conducted the first U.S.-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) simulation, an interagency table-top exercise, from September 5-6 in Washington, D.C. Officials from both nations' national security, defense, military, diplomatic, and intelligence sectors participated in the event. This simulation was a deliverable from President Biden and President Yoon's April 2023 Washington Declaration.
The exercise aims to enhance the work of the NCG by bolstering cooperative decision-making on nuclear deterrence and planning for potential nuclear contingencies on the Korean Peninsula. Through the NCG, both countries will strive to improve combined exercises and training activities focused on nuclear deterrence application on the Korean Peninsula. This includes regularized table-top exercises and comprehensive government simulations. The United States reaffirmed its extended deterrence commitment to the ROK as "ironclad."
In conjunction with other consultation bodies on extended deterrence such as the NCG and the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group, this simulation significantly strengthens U.S.-ROK extended deterrence cooperation.