On July 24th, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) following the docking of U.S nuclear powered submarines on the Island of Jeju. On Tuesday, July 18th, the USS Kentucky became the first nuclear armed submarine to arrive in South Korea in four decades. The arrival of a second nuclear powered submarine on Monday, the Annapolis, resulted in Pyongyang firing those two ballistic missiles in defiance of the U.S presence. According to Al Jazeera, the submarine’s primary mission is to destroy enemy ships and submarines via the use of conventional weapons. However, the U.S Navy asserted that the Annapolis is only being used to resupply the military base on Jeju, a strategic Island in the East China Sea. But comments from Jang Do Young, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Navy, suggest that the vessels might be used for conjoined military exercises in the future between South Korea and the United States. With North Korea already firing more than 100 missiles since the start of 2022, such developments could potentially increase tensions between the historic enemies.

After the Second World War, Korea was divided into two states after decades of Japanese occupation. The Northern half fell under Soviet influence whereas the Southern half was supported by the United States. With the blessing of the Soviet Union, Kim Il Sung launched an invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950, wanting to unite the country under his own regime. After three years of brutal war, with foreign actors supporting their respective sides, an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953. The truce created a two kilometer wide demilitarized zone in which military equipment and personnel were not allowed. While effectively ending all hostilities in 1953, the armistice never officially brought an end to the war. North Korea continued to develop its military and nuclear capabilities and regularly fired missiles to intimidate the South over the coming decades. Considering the location of Seoul, which is relatively close to the demilitarized zone, South Korea faces the persistent threat of nuclear annihilation in the face of North Korea’s impressive stockpile of nuclear and conventional weaponry. However, South Korea is not just concerned with North Korea but is facing a multitude of national security threats. 

Having limited agricultural potential and lacking natural resources, South Korea needs to import nearly all of its energy and food needs. According to South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country imports 94.8% of all of its energy consumption, with 59% of its energy coming from the Middle East specifically. This puts South Korea in a precarious situation as its industry is vulnerable to global energy markets and conflicts outside of its borders. To further exacerbate South Korea’s vulnerability, nearly all of its goods are imported via shipping through the South China Sea, which is a highly contested region. Possessing a navy that pales in comparison to its economic rivals China and Japan, South Korea must find other security guarantees. For these reasons, alongside the perpetual threat from North Korea, South Korea relies heavily on the United States to protect its vital shipping lanes. 

On April 26, 2023, the United States and South Korea unveiled a Joint Declaration to bolster deterance against North Korea. According to the State Department, the United States already has 28,500 military personnel stationed in South Korea, but recent dialogues suggest the countries plan to deepen military ties. It was this Joint Declaration that prompted the docking of the two nuclear powered submarines at Jeju Island, established the nuclear consultative group, and strengthened information sharing efforts. This increased presence in South Korea reflects the greater initiative by the United States to strengthen their military presence in the Pacific as a whole. 

It is undeniable that South Korea requires the support of the United States for its protection, but it is important that Washington goes about its security guarantees carefully. While the Biden administration has maintained that its military build up in the Pacific is purely defensive, Beijing and Pyongyang are likely to view it as a direct military threat. Washington’s enemies are likely to perceive the docking of the submarines similar to how the United States viewed the Cuban missile crisis. Soviet missiles stationed in Cuba were perceived as a direct military threat. However, the Soviet missiles were placed in Cuba in retaliation to the installation of U.S missiles in Turkey. Luckily, the miscommunication was resolved, the missiles were uninstalled, and nuclear annihilation was avoided. To avoid a similar crisis, it is important that the United States considers how its actions will be perceived by its enemies. 

Furthermore, Washington must consider the unintended consequences of its military build up in South Korea. Jesu Island is South of the Korean Peninsula, placing it relatively close to Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. Beijing could perceive the docking of the nuclear armed submarines as a direct threat to its One China policy. By not taking these factors into account, the United States could inadvertently be provoking a war in the pursuit of deterrence. For these reasons, it would be more strategic to place Washington’s military hardware somewhat further from this tense region. Increasing our presence in Japan would be safer as it is still relatively close to South Korea but does not pose an immediate threat to our rivals. After all, the North Korean missiles were fired in retaliation to an increased military presence, which undoubtedly made the security situation worse.