North Korea, China and Russia are developing their nuclear weapons at a breakneck pace, US says

Washington:

North Korea, China and Russia are expanding and diversifying their nuclear weapons stockpiles at a “dizzying” speed, a White House official said, warning that without a change in the trajectory of its arsenals, the United States may have to increase its own.

Pranay Vaddi, senior director for arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation at the National Security Council, made the remarks at a forum Friday, noting that the three countries are pushing the United States and its allies to prepare for a “world where nuclear competition takes place without digital constraints,” Yonhap news agency reported.

“Russia, the PRC and North Korea are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals at a breakneck pace, showing little or no interest in arms control,” he said at the event hosted by the Arms Control Association, a nonpartisan organization based in the United States. PRC means the official name of China, the People's Republic of China.

“These three countries, along with Iran, are increasingly cooperating and coordinating in ways that undermine peace and stability, threaten the United States, our allies and partners, and exacerbates regional tensions,” he added.

The official noted that to address the realities of a “new” nuclear era, President Joe Biden recently issued updated guidelines on the use of nuclear weapons. “This highlights the need to consider the growth and diversity of the PRC’s nuclear arsenal and the need to simultaneously deter Russia, the PRC and North Korea,” he said. “It also reaffirms our commitment to using arms control and other tools to minimize the number of nuclear weapons needed to achieve U.S. objectives.”

Vaddi warned that the United States will need to adjust its posture and capabilities to ensure its ability to deter growing threats from the three countries if its current nuclear weapons policy trajectory does not change. “Let me be clear: Without a change in the trajectory of adversary arsenals, we could reach a point in the coming years where an increase over currently deployed troops will be necessary,” he said.

Vaddi stressed that Washington has already taken “cautious” deterrence measures, including seeking a modern variant of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb and seeking to extend the life of some B61-class ballistic missile submarines. Ohio during the transition from legacy to modern capabilities.

He also stressed that the United States has “fully” invested in ensuring that its “extended deterrence” commitment to use the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its allies, continues to contribute to the efforts of non-proliferation.

He cited the Washington Declaration between the United States and South Korea as an example of efforts to “jointly address nuclear scenarios” with allies as “equal partners.” South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Biden adopted the declaration last April as part of efforts to strengthen the credibility of extended deterrence.

The official criticized Russia and China for their “categorical refusal” to discuss arms control, and North Korea for responding to U.S. attempts to engage on risk reduction and nuclear issues with “more 'missile tests and greater hostility'.

“In practice, they require the United States, our close allies and partners to prepare for a world where nuclear competition takes place without numerical constraints,” he said. “The reality is that it is extremely important to further strengthen our capabilities and posture to rejuvenate strategic arms control.”

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