US-Korea summit: Joe Biden's 'American Pie' won't include stationing nuclear weapons on the peninsula
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Monday, May 1, 2023
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The report highlights China’s increasing foreign policy assertiveness and its growing military power.
Key Points:
- The report highlights China’s increasing foreign policy assertiveness and its growing military power.
- Biden and Yoon agreed on a range of measures to enhance nuclear deterrence on the Korean peninsula.
- These include the establishment of a Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) to help “plan for nuclear contingencies and cooperate on the Alliance’s approach to nuclear deterrence”.
- But, while committing to consultation over “any possible nuclear weapons employment on the Korean Peninsula” the US retains the sole right to decide on the use of nuclear weapons under all circumstances.
- This goes at least some way towards the “joint nuclear exercises” that Yoon called for at the time of their first summit in May 2022.
More visible US presence on peninsula
- Under the heading: “More visible US strategic asset deployment”, the new agreement commits to “enhancing the deployment of US strategic assets in and around the Korean Peninsula, in particular US nuclear-capable platforms”.
- The words “more visible” are significant here because normally the location and deployment of sea-based nuclear deterrents is kept strictly secret.
- In spite of the close relationship between Washington and Seoul, engagement on security issues with North Korea remains an urgent priority.