Seoul [South Korea], April 28: The United States and South Korea have agreed on several steps aimed at bolstering the two countries' longstanding defence alliance in the face of growing nuclear threats posed by North Korea. Under the newly unveiled "Washington Declaration," the two countries have committed to engaging in deeper dialogue and information-sharing efforts and announced the establishment of a nuclear consultative group.
The Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group aims to better prepare the alliance to defend against potential attacks and nuclear use and conduct simulations to inform joint planning efforts.
The US will also enhance the visibility of its strategic assets in the region under the joint declaration, including an upcoming visit of a nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine to South Korea. In addition, Seoul will involve in joint execution and planning for US nuclear operations in a contingency and improve combined exercises and training activities on the application of nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula. In return, South Korea has agreed not to develop nuclear weapons and reaffirmed its commitment to a bilateral Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
The new measures were unveiled by US President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol during a joint news conference at the White House following bilateral talks. Biden called the declaration a "prudent step" toward deterrence in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear threat. He warned that a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States, its allies, or partners "is not acceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime that would take such an action."
President Yoon affirmed that South Korea will apply the full range of its capabilities to the alliance's combined defence posture. This includes working with the United States to closely connect the capabilities and planning activities of the new South Korea Strategic Command and the US-South Korea Combined Forces Command. Such activities will include a new tabletop exercise conducted with US Strategic Command. Biden said that while the declaration marks a commitment to strengthening the longstanding US-South Korean defence relationship, the two countries also seek "serious and substantial diplomatic breakthroughs" with North Korea to bolster stability on the Korean Peninsula.Yoon's official state visit to Washington marks the 70th anniversary of the US-South Korean alliance. The US has maintained a robust presence in South Korea since the Korean War of 1950-53.
More than 28,000 US service members serve on the peninsula alongside South Korean allies. The South Korean president arrived in Washington on Monday for a five-day visit to the US, which will include an official state dinner at the White House and meetings with Cabinet officials in Washington.
Source: Qatar Tribune