South Korea has committed to refrain from creating its nuclear weapons in exchange.
Washington has agreed to send US nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea regularly and to include Seoul in nuclear planning activities. S. Korea has committed to refrain from creating its nuclear weapons in exchange. According to US President Joe Biden, the Washington Declaration will improve the allies’ cooperation in preventing a North Korean assault.
South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol and Biden announced their agreement at a joint press conference to take action to fortify South Korea’s defenses in response to the danger presented by North Korea.
Concern over North Korea’s nuclear danger has grown on both sides of the conflict. Pyongyang is perfecting its long-range missiles, which can reach the US mainland, and creating tactical nuclear weapons that can hit S. Korea.
The US has already agreed to protect S. Korea under international law, and it has also promised to deploy nuclear weapons if necessary. However, some South Koreans have begun to question that dedication and advocate for the nation to continue its nuclear project.
The US has already agreed to protect S. Korea under international law
The Washington Declaration, according to S. Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was in Washington on a state visit, represented an “unprecedented” commitment by the US to strengthen the defense, fend off threats, and defend its allies by using nuclear weapons. A senior administration official claims that the new deal is the outcome of discussions that lasted for several months.
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WHY SOUTH KOREANS DESIRE NUCLEAR WEAPONS
With the new agreement, the US will send a nuclear-armed submarine to S. Korea for the first time in 40 years, along with other strategic assets like bombers that can deliver nuclear weapons.
A Nuclear Consultative Group will also be formed by the two parties to talk about nuclear planning-related concerns. Seoul’s politicians have long urged Washington to include them more in the process of deciding how and when to deploy nuclear weapons against North Korea.
But in January, Mr. Yeol shocked Washington leaders when he became the first South Korean president in decades to bring up this concept again. The US quickly realized that encouraging words and actions would no longer be effective and that to stop South Korea from wishing to make its bombs, it would have to make an actual offer.
The US demands that South Korea must continue to be a non-nuclear state and a staunch opponent of the spread of nuclear weapons.
The US demands that South Korea must continue to be a non-nuclear state and a staunch opponent of the spread of nuclear weapons. The US also believes that stopping South Korea from developing nuclear weapons is crucial because it worries that if it fails, other nations may do the same.
However, it is unclear whether these US assurances would completely appease the important and increasingly vocal group of professors, scientists, and members of the governing party in South Korea who have been advocating for Seoul to arm itself.
SOUTH KOREA’S DIPLOMATIC VICTORY
The Washington Declaration, according to Duyeon Kim of the Centre for a New American Security, is “a big win for the alliance and especially for South Korea.”
Duyeon Kim of the Centre for a New American Security, said that it is “a big win for the alliance and especially for South Korea.”
One of the most noteworthy changes, according to her, was that the two sides were now simulating scenarios that included a U.S. nuclear reaction, although before this had been deemed too secret to discuss.
Yeol is the second state visitor that Biden has welcomed since assuming office two years ago; the first being the president of France.
Along with concerns between China and Taiwan, Biden and Yeol also spoke about Chinese military activity in the South China Sea. The two presidents also emphasized the need of maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait in their joint statement.