Yoon, Biden promise overwhelming response to NK nuclear threat

President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden during a joint press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House after the summit, Wednesday. EPA-Yonhap

US president says any nuke attack will result in end of Kim Jong-un regime

By Nam Hyun-woo

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― President Yoon Suk Yeol and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden agreed Wednesday (local time) that the two countries will overwhelmingly respond to any kind of nuclear attack from North Korea with all capable assets of the alliance, including U.S. nuclear weapons.

To make such a swift and decisive response possible, the two leaders agreed to launch a Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) to bolster the U.S.' extended deterrence including nuclear weapons, while South Korea will have a say in deciding how those military assets will be used.

The agreement came after Yoon and Biden held a summit at the White House on the occasion of the South Korean leader's state visit to the United States. As a result of the summit, the leaders announced the Washington Declaration, which contained a detailed blueprint of how Washington will deter Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

"Our two countries have agreed to hold immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack and promised to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance, including the United States' nuclear weapons," Yoon said during a joint press conference.

"Our two leaders have decided to significantly strengthen extended deterrence of our two countries against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, so that we can achieve peace through the superiority of overwhelming forces, not a false peace based on the goodwill of the other side," he added.

Such promises are included in the Washington Declaration, the latest document concerning the two countries' strengthened mutual defense relationship through extended deterrence. Extended deterrence refers to a U.S. commitment to protect its allies by threatening to choose a nuclear response in the event of an attack on them.

Under the declaration, South Korea and the U.S. will establish a new NCG to strengthen extended deterrence, discuss nuclear and strategic planning and manage North Korea's threat to the nonproliferation regime.

"The level of extended deterrence and its implementation plan materialized in the Washington Declaration, is different from that of the past," Yoon said.

"After launching the NCG, there will be real-time, periodic and regular discussions and information sharing on nuclear assets, latest developments, joint planning on responses, and implementations related to exercises and drills. It is tailored to the situation of the Korean Peninsula, so that we can properly respond to the North's nuclear threats," he added.

Yoon said this is "an unprecedented plan" because the "U.S. has not discussed information on its nuclear assets, planning and execution with other countries, thus concerns that South Koreans may have against North Korean nuclear weapons will be relieved."

ANALYSISWashington Declaration means US' rejection of nuclear-armed S. Korea

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PHOTOSYoon-Biden summit

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Text of Joint Statement between US, Korea

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Text of Washington Declaration

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Biden noted that he has "the absolute authority as commander in chief and the sole authority to use" a U.S. nuclear weapon, but said the declaration means the U.S. is going to "make every effort to consult with allies when it's appropriate."

"We are having more consultations with whatever action is to be contemplated or taken," Biden said. "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime … But the bottom line here is there's even closer cooperation, closer consultation and we're not going to be stationing nuclear weapons on the peninsula but we will have port visits of nuclear submarines and things like that."

The nuclear submarine Biden refers to is a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, which is capable of launching ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads. The U.S. Pacific Fleet on Wednesday revealed photos of the USS Maine making a visit to Guam.

U.S. President Joe Biden touches the back of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as they leave a joint press conference at the White House, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap

Yoon and Biden said the two countries' strategic partnership will also continue to grow stronger in the economic field.

"President Biden has said that no special support and considerations will be spared for Korean companies' investment and business activities," Yoon said during the press conference. "We have agreed to consult and coordinate closely so that the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS and Science Act can further strengthen supply chain cooperation between the two countries in advanced technology."

There have been concerns from South Korean companies over the IRA and CHIPS Act subsidy programs, as they require South Korean businesses to make more investments in the U.S. while keeping a distance from China.

During the summit, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue close consultations to let the IRA and CHIPS Act help create a more predictable and favorable business environment that fosters mutually beneficial investments, according to Yoon's office.

Biden said that he knows that some South Korean companies feel that the U.S. is making efforts to prevent their growth, but the U.S. "views South Korea's economic growth as a benefit to the United States as well as freedom around the world."

Throughout the summit, the two leaders reiterated the importance of the ironclad South Korea-U.S. alliance and the benefits of the bilateral economic partnerships.

Yoon said the alliance was "forged in blood" and is "a value-based alliance" which is not a transactional relationship that operates for the sake of interests.

"The South Korea-U.S. alliance is a just alliance and it is a global alliance for freedom, peace and prosperity around the world," Yoon said when he arrived at the White House before the summit.

Biden noted that the two countries are taking on the "challenges from the world together" and the alliance's future is filled with "unimaginable opportunities."

"Ours is the future, filled with unimaginable opportunity and endless possibility," Biden told reporters before the summit. "And nothing, nothing is beyond our ability to reach when our nations and our people stand united."

During the summit, the leaders discussed their response to climate change, cooperation in international development and food and energy security as well as ways that the two countries can play leading roles. Also, they explored ideas on new areas of cooperation, such as cyber issues, strategic technologies, space, democracy and other areas that matter to the future of both countries.

In another outcome of the summit, two leaders also announced joint statements on identifying potential recipients of the Medal of Honor from the Korean War, discussions on next-generation technologies and strategic cybersecurity cooperation.