The Credibility of U.S. Extended Deterrence on the Korean Peninsula

Time Stamps

[0:09] “What are your observations of the current status of the U.S.-ROK alliance?”

[5:55] “Why has it been difficult for the South Korea and the U.S. to reach an agreement on burden sharing? How can the challenges be overcome?”

[8:57] “If the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) were completed, how would this affect the U.S.-ROK alliance?”

[11:12] “For the US., what unique strategic value does the US-ROK alliance offer in comparison with the to what the US-Japan alliance offers?”

[16:56] “How will China’s growing influence in the region affect the alliance? If South Korea tilts towards China, how should the U.S. respond?”

[20:59] “As North Korea’s nuclear weapons technology becomes more sophisticated, how will it impact the credibility of U.S. extended deterrence to South Korea?”

[27:52] “Do consultation mechanisms such as the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) help alleviate concerns of eroding credibility of U.S. extended deterrence?”

[31:18] “Would adding new low-yield options enhance the credibility of U.S. deterrence against North Korea?”

[36:32] “Has U.S. conventional extended deterrence succeeded in curbing North Korea’s low-level provocations?”

[40:23] “If in the future South Korea and North Korea are reunified, how would the goals of the US-ROK alliance transform?”

Mira Rapp-Hooper is the Stephen A. Schwarzman Senior Fellow for Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of the forthcoming book Shields of the Republic: The Triumph and Peril of America’s Alliances (June 2020).

This interview was conducted by Sanghoon Kim, a Korea Foundation Research Fellow with the Political and Security Affairs group at NBR.