The United States promised on Wednesday to include South Korea in a strategic plan for the use of nuclear weapons in any conflict with North Korea, in return for an agreement that Seoul will not pursue nuclear weapons of its own.
The agreement, also called the Washington Declaration by both sides, emerged after talks between US President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol, who were meeting with the president at the White House today. The talks covered a wide range of issues, including North Korea, semiconductor chips and trade, and the Ukraine war.
In a joint news conference, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said that he and President Biden had agreed on steps to strengthen South Korea’s security in response to the threat posed by North Korea.
The President of South Korea said, “Our two countries have agreed to hold immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea and to act swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively, using the full might of the alliance, including the nuclear weapons of the United States of America.” I have promised to respond in kind.”
Biden called the US-South Korean relationship a “lynchpin of regional security and prosperity”, adding, “Today I am proud to say, Mr. President, that I think our partnership is ready to face any challenge. “
The President of South Korea responded by saying, “Our alliance is an alliance of values based on our shared universal values of freedom and democracy.”
As part of the Washington Declaration, the US will deploy a ballistic-missile submarine to South Korea in a show of force. But Biden made it clear that no US nuclear weapons would be deployed on South Korean territory.
“I have the absolute authority as commander in chief and the sole authority to use a nuclear weapon, but … what the announcement means is that we are going to make every effort to consult with our allies, When it is appropriate, if any action is called for,” Biden said.
The two presidents also discussed tensions between China and Taiwan and Chinese military activities in the South China Sea. They also stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The two leaders “strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region, including illegal maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed facilities, and coercive activities”.
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