Bipartisan US Senate bill reaffirms 'ironclad' nuclear deterrence pledge to S. Korea

Two U.S. senators introduced bipartisan legislation in Washington late last month to reaffirm the United States’ “ironclad” extended nuclear deterrence commitment to South Korea and other treaty allies. The Reaffirming Extended Nuclear Deterrence Act calls for a credible nuclear deterrent backed by conventional forces, joint exercises and strategic consultations. It identifies South Korea, Japan, Australia and NATO members as allies whose security advances U.S. national interests amid nuclear threats from North Korea, China and Russia.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, and cosponsored by Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina.

The legislation says U.S. military posture, exercises, strategic consultations and defense investments should demonstrate continued extended-deterrence commitments.

The bill says sustained consultations, planning and military exercises can strengthen collective readiness and have helped discourage allies from developing independent nuclear weapons.

Kelly and Tillis introduced the legislation after urging the Trump administration to reverse its decision to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea.

Published Oct 16, 2026 3:05 am KST

The U.S. Capitol, as viewed from the National Mall, at blue hour in Washington, D.C., Sept. 1. Reuters-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — Two U.S. senators have introduced bipartisan legislation seeking to reaffirm Washington's "ironclad" extended nuclear deterrence commitments to South Korea and other treaty allies, amid growing nuclear threats from North Korea, China and Russia.

The Reaffirming Extended Nuclear Deterrence Act, introduced by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) late last month and cosponsored by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), calls for maintaining a credible U.S. nuclear deterrent supported by conventional military capabilities, joint exercises and strategic consultations with allies.

The bill states that United States should "reaffirm that its extended deterrence commitments to its treaty allies remain ironclad" and ensure that its military posture, exercises, strategic consultations and defense investments demonstrate

The legislation specifically identifies South Korea, Japan, Australia and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as allies whose security directly advances U.S. national security interests, while highlighting growing nuclear threats from North Korea, China and Russia.

It also underscores the importance of sustained consultations, planning and military exercises with allies to strengthen collective readiness, noting that U.S. extended nuclear deterrence has helped discourage allies from developing independent nuclear weapons.

The legislation comes after Kelly and Tillis urged the Trump administration to reverse its decision to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea.

"Deterrence only works if adversaries believe you mean it. China and Russia are expanding their nuclear arsenals. North Korea keeps pushing. This is the wrong moment to leave allies confused about where we stand," Kelly said in a statement announcing the legislation.

上月底，两位美国参议员在华盛顿提出一项两党共同支持的法案，重申美国对韩国及其他条约盟国的“铁腕”延伸核威慑承诺。《重申延伸核威慑法案》呼吁建立一支可信的核威慑力量，并以常规部队、联合演习和战略磋商作为后盾。该法案明确指出，在朝鲜、中国和俄罗斯的核威胁下，韩国、日本、澳大利亚和北约成员国是美国的盟友，它们的安保维护了美国的国家利益。

该法案由亚利桑那州民主党参议员马克·凯利提出，并由北卡罗来纳州共和党参议员汤姆·蒂利斯共同发起。

该法案规定，美国的军事态势、演习、战略磋商和国防投资应体现其持续的延伸威慑承诺。

该法案称，持续的磋商、规划和军事演习可以加强集体战备，并有助于阻止盟国发展独立的核武器。

凯利和蒂利斯在敦促特朗普政府撤销大幅削减与韩国联合军事演习的决定后，提出了这项立法。

发布于2026年10月16日凌晨3:05（韩国标准时间）

9月1日，华盛顿特区，蓝调时刻，从国家广场眺望美国国会大厦。（路透社-韩联社）

华盛顿——面对朝鲜、中国和俄罗斯日益增长的核威胁，两名美国参议员提出了一项两党立法，旨在重申华盛顿对韩国和其他条约盟友的“铁腕”延伸核威慑承诺。

上个月底，参议员马克·凯利（亚利桑那州民主党）提出《重申延伸核威慑法案》，参议员汤姆·蒂利斯（北卡罗来纳州共和党）共同发起该法案，呼吁维持可信的美国核威慑力量，并辅以常规军事能力、联合演习以及与盟友的战略磋商。

该法案指出，美国应“重申其对条约盟国的延伸威慑承诺依然坚定不移”，并确保其军事态势、演习、战略磋商和国防投资体现出这一点。

该法案明确指出韩国、日本、澳大利亚和北大西洋公约组织（北约）成员国是盟友，它们的安保直接促进了美国的国家安全利益，同时强调了来自朝鲜、中国和俄罗斯日益增长的核威胁。

报告还强调了与盟友持续磋商、规划和军事演习以加强集体战备的重要性，并指出美国延伸核威慑有助于阻止盟友发展独立的核武器。

此前，凯利和蒂利斯敦促特朗普政府撤销大幅削减与韩国联合军事演习的决定。

“威慑只有在对手相信你是认真的时才有效。中国和俄罗斯正在扩充核武库。朝鲜也在不断推进。现在让盟友对我们的立场感到困惑，时机非常不妙，”凯利在宣布这项立法的声明中说道。