Deterrence and Indo-Pacific Security

North Korea's continuing nuclear and missile programs pose new challenges to maintaining deterrence on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region. Pyongyang's unprecedented missile campaign this year, bolstered by a hardening nuclear doctrine and perhaps presaging a coming seventh nuclear test, has prompted the United States and South Korea to consider additional ways to deter aggression on and around the peninsula. The recent resumption of the bilateral Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) talks is perhaps the most apparent institutional response by the US-South Korea alliance. Ongoing dialogue about adequate "strategic assets" and ironclad "extended deterrence" remain essential for staying ahead of an evolving threat.