Yang Gyu Kim, Principal Researcher at EAI, warns that the NPT regime is becoming fragile, as evidenced by troubling global trends such as inadequate responses to DPRK's rule violations, the decline of the global nuclear order, and weakening cooperation among major nuclear powers. Given South Korea's growing threat perception and the increasing importance of U.S. extended deterrence amid North Korea's hostility and preemptive nuclear use policy, Kim stresses that the NPT and global nuclear order will remain at risk until the North Korean nuclear problem is resolved. To this end, he urges South Korea to strictly adhere to the NPT while developing AI-enhanced non-nuclear assets to deter North Korea and dissuade its nuclear advancement. Additionally, Kim advocates for strengthening sanctions against DPRK's illicit cyber operations.
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