The fifth U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) was held in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 11, 2025. Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs, Dr. Robert Soofer, and ROK Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy, Mr. Hong-Cheol Kim, led their respective delegations, which included senior defense and foreign affairs officials, and military and intelligence authorities.
During the discussions, Deputy Minister Kim emphasized that the ROK will assume the leading role in the conventional defense of the Korean Peninsula. Dr. Soofer reiterated the U.S. commitment to provide extended deterrence to the ROK, utilizing the full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including nuclear. Dr. Soofer and Deputy Minister Kim reviewed the progress on NCG workstreams and recognized the NCG as an enduring bilateral consultative body to strengthen the U.S.-ROK Alliance and enhance extended deterrence.
NCG Principals discussed various efforts to maintain and strengthen nuclear deterrence policy and posture through in-depth discussions on all areas of extended deterrence, including information sharing, consultation and communication processes, Conventional-Nuclear Integration (CNI), and joint exercises, simulations, and trainings. Dr. Soofer and Deputy Minister Kim assessed that NCG activities, like the Nuclear Deterrence Immersion Course, the NCG Simulation and the CNI table-top exercises enhance the Alliance's cooperative decision-making for potential nuclear contingencies on the Korean Peninsula.
Both leaders agreed to continue making substantive progress on NCG workstreams, including, based on the outcomes of the 57th Meeting of the Security Consultative Meeting.
The NCG Principals approved an NCG workplan and key activities for the first half of 2026, which include convening the sixth principal-level NCG meeting.
