■ Biden Approved Nuclear Weapons Operational Guidelines in March
NYT “Faster Nuclear Expansion by China than Expected
North Korea Holds Over 60 Nuclear Weapons and Fuel”
Harris’ Side: “No Change in North Korea’s Denuclearization”
‘Chicago = Reporter Min Byung-ki [email protected]’
President Joe Biden secretly approved a nuclear weapons operational strategy in March to address the rapid nuclear weapons expansion by North Korea and China, as reported by The New York Times (NYT) on the 20th local time. The military was also instructed to prepare for a joint nuclear threat from North Korea, China, and Russia. In relation to the absence of North Korean denuclearization in the Democratic Party’s new policy, Kamala Harris’ camp stated that denuclearization remains an unchanged goal.
NYT reported, “President Biden signed the Nuclear Employment Guidance in March,” citing the intention to prepare for the possibility of coordinated nuclear threats by North Korea and China under Russia while rapidly expanding their nuclear capabilities. NYT explained, “The new partnership between Russia and China, and the situation where North Korea and Iran are providing Russia with traditional weapons for the Ukraine war, has fundamentally changed the U.S.’s perception,” and “China is progressing with nuclear expansion at a much faster pace than what U.S. intelligence agencies expected two years ago.” According to officials, NYT reported that North Korea is estimated to possess over 60 nuclear weapons and more fuel for further nuclear development. NYT pointed out, “North Korea’s expanded nuclear weapons capabilities are rapidly approaching the scale of Pakistan and Israel, and are coordinated with China and Russia.”
Meanwhile, Colin Kahl, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense who participated in drafting the Democratic Party’s new policy, stated, “Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains a goal of this (Joe Biden) administration, and it will be the same in the Harris administration.” He emphasized, “However, resolving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula in the short term is difficult,” and “Our priority is to protect allies such as South Korea from North Korea’s threats and strengthen deterrence.”