A historic agreement has been reached between the United States and South Korea to tackle North Korea’s nuclear threat.
South Korea has been included in the United States’ nuclear planning operations, and the United States has promised to occasionally deploy nuclear-armed submarines to the peninsula.
Strengthen Alliance Cooperation
South Korea has promised not to pursue its own nuclear program in exchange. US President Joe Biden has stated that the Washington Declaration will improve allied cooperation in preventing a North Korean assault.
The threat from North Korea has been a source of growing concern on both sides.
Pyongyang is working on both long-range weapons that can reach the United States mainland and shorter-range atomic weapons that can be used against South Korea.
The United States has already promised to use atomic weapons to defend South Korea in the event of an attack.
But some South Koreans have begun to question that dedication and have called for their own nuclear program to be pursued.
A senior administration official has stated that the new agreement is the culmination of months of talks.
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The Desire for Nuclear Weapons in South Korea
As part of the new agreement, the United States would send a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea for the first time in 40 years, in addition to other strategic assets like nuclear-capable bombers, in order to demonstrate its defense commitments.
South Koreans have become increasingly fearful of being kept in the dark about what would cause Mr. Biden to click the atomic button on their behalf as North Korea’s arsenal has grown in size and complexity.
Concern that Washington may leave The situation in Seoul has prompted calls for South Korea to begin atomic weapons development.
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