South Korea confirmed Tuesday that Seoul and Washington are discussing their involvement in managing U.S. nuclear assets within the face of escalating nuclear threats from North Korea, after President Joe Biden denied that the allies were discussing joint nuclear exercises.
The alleged difference got here after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un entered the brand new yr vowing to mass-produce nuclear weapons on the battlefield targeting South Korea and launch a more powerful ICBM able to striking the continental United States. Some experts say Kim would ultimately intend to make use of his expanded arsenal of weapons to wrest external concessions, comparable to easing sanctions.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said in a news interview published Monday that the 2 countries are pushing for joint planning and training involving U.S. nuclear assets, and that the U.S. has responded positively to the thought.
When asked later by a reporter on the White House whether the 2 countries were discussing joint nuclear exercises, Biden replied, “No.”
![South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, with Joe Biden.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Biden-SK.jpg?w=1024)
Yoon’s chief press advisor, Kim Eun-hye, released an announcement on Tuesday saying that Seoul and Washington “are discussing intelligence sharing, joint planning, and then joint execution plans for the management of U.S. nuclear assets in response to a nuclear North Korea’s decision (threats).”
Kim said Biden likely answered “no” since the reporter succinctly asked him in regards to the nuclear exercise without providing any background information.
In an interview with Chosun, Ilbo Yoon said that although American nuclear weapons belong to the US, planning, intelligence sharing and exercises with them have to be conducted jointly with South Korea. He said he found it difficult to supply security assurances to his individuals with the present level of US security commitment.
South Korea doesn’t possess nuclear weapons and is under the protection of the US “nuclear umbrella” which guarantees a devastating US response should an ally be attacked. But some experts query the effectiveness of such a security pledge, claiming that the choice to make use of US nuclear weapons rests with the US president.
![When asked later by a reporter at the White House whether the two countries were discussing joint nuclear exercises, Biden replied,](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/NK-SK-Nukes-2.jpg?w=1024)
Yoon’s office didn’t provide many details about his government’s talks with the USA. Some observers say South Korea is looking for a greater role in US decision-making over the deployment of its nuclear assets amid tensions with North Korea.
Kim Taewoo, former head of the Korea Institute of National Unification in Seoul, said the reported discussion between South Korea and the USA likely “modeled a NATO-style nuclear weapons sharing agreement” that enables NATO member warplanes to hold US nuclear weapons. He said the discussion still gave the impression to be out of line with NATO arrangements, as a possible nuclear exercise between the 2 countries would likely involve South Korean air force aircraft escorting US warplanes simulating nuclear strikes in joint exercises.
“North Korea would handle it sensitively. (South Korea and the USA) are discussing that North Korea should handle this sensitively… because it could scare North Korea away,” said Kim Taewoo.
He said that South Korea and the USA probably use unofficial channels to debate the subject. He said this enables South Korea to assert to be discussing the problem with the US while allowing Washington to disclaim it.
![North Korean nuclear bomb on parade.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/NK-nuke.jpg?w=1024)
Last yr, North Korea conducted a record variety of weapons tests, launching various ballistic missiles able to reaching the mainland United States and its allies South Korea and Japan. In September, North Korea also passed a latest law allowing the preemptive use of its bombs in a big selection of cases, including non-war scenarios.
Following their annual meeting in November, the US and South Korean defense chiefs issued a joint statement reaffirming the US’s commitment to providing enhanced deterrence against North Korean threats. The statement also included their agreement to reinforce information sharing, joint planning and implementation of the alliance.
During a recent ruling party meeting, Kim Jong Un ordered an “exponential” build-up of his country’s nuclear arsenal and mass production of tactical nuclear weapons to attack South Korea, in addition to the event of a latest intercontinental ballistic missile with a “rapid nuclear counterattack” capability – a weapon needed to hit the mainland, North Korean state media reported on Sunday.