nuclear-news

Biden and South Korea’s Yoon sign new agreement on nuclear weapons

By Jean Mackenzie in Seoul & Madeline Halpert in New York, BBC News 26 Apr 23

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have secured a landmark deal which includes plans to periodically deploy US nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea.

Washington has also agreed to involve Seoul in its planning for any use of nuclear weapons against North Korea.

In return, South Korea has agreed to not develop its own nuclear weapons.

………………………………… It does not ink a total commitment from the US that it would use nuclear weapons to defend South Korea if North Korea were to attack.

……… Plans for a nuclear-armed submarine to visit South Korea for the first time in four decades adds further weight to the US commitment.

In return, the US has demanded that South Korea remain a non-nuclear state and a faithful advocate of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The US sees dissuading South Korea from going nuclear as essential, fearful that if it fails, other countries may follow in its footsteps.

But it is unclear how this commitment will be received by the influential, and increasingly vocal, group of academics, scientists and members of South Korea’s ruling party who have been pushing for Seoul to arm itself.  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65404805

April 28, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, South Korea, USA