[Audacious Initiative: Assessing its First Year and Discussing the Way Forward] Assessing Deterrence Under the Audacious Initiative

Assessing Deterrence Under the Audacious Initiative

James E. Platte [Assistant Professor, US Army School of Advanced Military Studies]

►  While the Audacious Initiative proposes a phased approach to achieving North Korean denuclearization, deterrence is essential throughout the process, and the Yoon administration has taken steps to bolster deterrence against North Korean threats under the Audacious Initiative.

► Strengthening existing ROK-US alliance mechanisms and bolstering trilateral cooperation is a form of deterrence by denial, since that denies North Korea’s strategic goal of isolating South Korea from external supporters.

► Yet, with dissuasion and dialogue struggling under the Audacious Initiative, the Yoon administration should focus more deterrence, particularly on how to innovate the ROK-US alliance and institutionalize trilateral cooperation to improve South Korea’s deterrence posture against future North Korean nuclear threats and military provocations.

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