Washington - The United States and Japan have agreed to enhance deterrence measures in response to North Korea's ballistic missile launches and its military collaboration with Russia. This consensus was reached during the Extended Deterrence Dialogue (EDD) held in Japan from Tuesday to Thursday. Extended deterrence signifies the U.S.'s commitment to defending its ally using its full military capabilities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the dialogue highlighted the necessity of strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance's deterrence and response capabilities in an increasingly complex regional security environment. This includes frequent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and growing military cooperation between Russia and China, as well as between Russia and the DPRK.
The EDD followed North Korea's successful launch of a space rocket carrying a military spy satellite last month, a move condemned by Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
During the talks, Japan expressed its desire to continue enhancing the U.S. extended deterrence, supported by Japan's capabilities. The U.S. emphasized the alliance's steady progress on integrated deterrence. The discussions also covered arms control and risk reduction strategies in response to the evolving and complex nuclear risks posed by the diversification and expansion of regional actors' nuclear arsenals.
The U.S. and Japan also agreed to deepen their political, diplomatic, and defense cooperation through information sharing, training, and exercises to better prepare the alliance against potential attacks and deter nuclear use. The EDD, established in 2010, serves as a platform for discussing and reinforcing extended deterrence.