Prospects for DPRK’s Nuclear Use Scenarios and Deterrence Measures of the US and ROK Alliance
| Title: | Prospects for DPRK’s Nuclear Use Scenarios and Deterrence Measures of the US and ROK Alliance |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Sangkyu Lee |
| Source: | Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, Vol 5, Iss sup1, Pp 69-84 (2022) |
| Publisher Information: | Taylor & Francis Group, 2022. |
| Publication Year: | 2022 |
| Collection: | LCC:Nuclear engineering. Atomic power LCC:International relations |
| Subject Terms: | DPRK, nuclear capabilities, nuclear strategy, nuclear use cases, US-ROK alliance, Nuclear engineering. Atomic power, TK9001-9401, International relations, JZ2-6530 |
| More Details: | The purpose of this paper is to develop cases for the DPRK’s use of nuclear weapons. As background, firstly, the deterrence and countermeasure strategies of the United States-ROK alliance in the face of the increasingly sophisticated DPRK’s nuclear threat is examined. Then, the DPRK’s nuclear capabilities and nuclear strategy are investigated, and nuclear use cases are presented in detail based on those strategies. The relative priorities and feasibility of the different DPRK nuclear use cases were analyzed using parameters evaluating their military effect, the potential for US nuclear retaliation, and the level of civilian casualties. Among the expected cases, an attack on the ROK Mobile Corps would seem to be the most probable scenario, since the benefits that the DPRK would gain from such an attack would be high. Within that case, there is a danger of nuclear provocation due to the asymmetry between the DPRK’s nuclear possession and ROK’s possession of only conventional forces. The importance of the US extended deterrence policy to deter the DPRK’s nuclear threat is therefore emphasized, and measures to strengthen the credibility of US extended deterrence are also suggested. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 25751654 2575-1654 |
| Relation: | https://doaj.org/toc/2575-1654 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/25751654.2022.2053408 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/cc3e74c7b3d245a296fdd51a4336d1ae |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.3e74c7b3d245a296fdd51a4336d1ae |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| ISSN: | 25751654 |
|---|---|
| DOI: | 10.1080/25751654.2022.2053408 |
| Published in: | Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament |
| Language: | English |