The U.S. and South Korea announced a major security deal on Wednesday.
Washington agreed to increase Seoul's involvement in nuclear planning
operations. In exchange, North Korea agreed not to develop its own
nuclear arsenal.
- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden jointly announced the "Washington Declaration," on Wednesday.
- The agreement will improve the integration of South Korean forces into a joint strategic deterrence effort with the U.S.
- The deal calls for a Nuclear Consultative Group to facilitate bilateral nuclear planning between Washington and Seoul.
- The U.S. said it will dock a nuclear-armed submarine in South Korea for the first time in 40 years as part of efforts to increase its visible military presence in the region.
- Biden
warned that "a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States
or its allies" would result in "the end of whatever regime were to take
such an action."
- Yoon said the countries agreed to use "the
full force of the alliance, including the United States’ nuclear
weapons," if there is a North Korean attack.
- Yoon started a six-day state U.S. visit on Monday to strengthen military ties and mark the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korean alliance.
- The U.S. and South Korea have grown increasingly concerned about nuclear deterrence after North Korea conducted a record number of missile tests last year.
