Sec. 1254. PLAN TO ENHANCE THE EXTENDED DETERRENCE AND ASSURANCE CAPABILITIES OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

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## SEC. 1254 PLAN TO ENHANCE THE EXTENDED DETERRENCE AND ASSURANCE CAPABILITIES OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION ###

(a)Finding Congress recognizes that Democratic People’s Republic of Korea successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile

(ICBM)and nuclear explosive tests constitute a grave and imminent threat to United States security and to the security of United States allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region. ###

(b)Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— ####

(1)the nuclear and missile program of North Korea is one of the most dangerous national security threats facing the United States today and the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan must remain a top priority for the administration; ####

(2)given the threat posed by North Korea to our allies, the United States maintains an unwavering and steadfast commitment to the policy of extended deterrence, especially with respect to South Korea and Japan; ####

(3)the Department of Defense’s Nuclear Posture Review that is to be completed in 2017 should fully consider— #####

(A)the perspectives of key allies and partners of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region; and #####

(B)actions to reassure South Korea and Japan of the enduring commitment of the United States to provide its full range of defensive capabilities; ####

(4)bilateral extended deterrence dialogues and discussions with South Korea and Japan are of great value to the United States and its allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region and must remain a central component of these relationships; ####

(5)the United States must sustain and modernize current United States nuclear capabilities to ensure the extended deterrence commitments of the United States remain credible and executable; and ####

(6)the timely development, production, and deployment of modern nuclear-capable aircraft are fundamental to ensure that the United States remains able to meet extended deterrence requirements in the Asia-Pacific region far into the future. ###

(c)Plan Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Commander of the United States Pacific Command and the Commander of the United States Strategic Command, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to enhance the extended deterrence and assurance capabilities of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. ###

(d)Matters to Be Included Such plan shall include consideration of actions that will enhance United States security by strengthening deterrence of North Korean aggression and providing increased assurance to United States allies in the Asia-Pacific region, including the following: ####

(1)Increased visible presence of key United States military assets, such as missile defenses, long-range strike assets, and intermediate-range strike assets to the region. ####

(2)Increased military cooperation, exercises, and integration of defenses with allies in the region. ####

(3)Increased foreign military sales to allies in the region. ####

(4)Planning for, exercising, or deploying dual-capable aircraft to the region. ####

(5)Any necessary modifications to the United States nuclear force posture, including re-deployment of submarine-launched nuclear cruise missiles to the region. ####

(6)Such other actions the Secretary considers appropriate to strengthen extended deterrence and assurance in the region. ###

(e)Form Such plan shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex. ###

(f)Rule of Construction Nothing in this section may be construed to alter the shared goal of the United States, South Korea, and Japan for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.