The United States and South Korea Have Signed a New Defense Pact in Response to Threats from North Korea

A fresh South Korea-United States defense pact will allow for additional U.S.military support in the case of any provocation from the North Korea.

The agreement, signed Friday, expands on previous arrangements that provided U.S. support to the South in the case of full-scale conflict with the North. Under the new protocol, Seoul may request additional assistance if it becomes necessary. This would include cases of low-level skirmishes such as maritime border incursions, shelling of border islands and infiltration by low-flying jets or special forces.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff hope the agreement will act as a deterrent to Northern aggression. Tension has been high on the Korean peninsula since the North conducted an underground nuclear test in February. UN sanctions against the North in response to that test have resulted in threats of aggression from Northern leader Kim Jong-Un, including the treat of a nuclear strike against the United States.

There are presently 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea. The South and U.S.forces are currently engaged in joint military drills that have angered the North in recent weeks.