Korea-US Announce Separate Statement on 'Extended Deterrence'... US Says "Will Be an Advanced Measure" (Summary)

Presidential Office and White House Both Announce 'Separate Statements'
White House: "Announcement in Context of Evolving Threats"
US Congress Resolutions... "Allies Essential for Indo-Pacific Peace"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden will issue a separate statement on extended deterrence at the White House summit on the 26th (local time). The statement is expected to include detailed content that enhances trust in the U.S., such as the 'nuclear umbrella,' and if both countries agree to strengthen and formalize extended deterrence, it will effectively constitute an official declaration of the U.S.'s nuclear retaliation commitment.

On the 24th (local time), Kim Eun-hye, the chief spokesperson of the Presidential Office, met with reporters at the press center set up in Washington D.C. and said, "President Yoon and President Biden plan to announce a separate document containing extended deterrence measures as an outcome of this Korea-U.S. summit," adding, "We expect it to be a more advanced extended deterrence plan."

The extended deterrence measures to be announced by the two leaders are expected to include effective and strengthened agreements that can put an end to the public's anxiety and concerns caused by North Korea's nuclear and missile advancements. However, a Presidential Office official refrained from elaborating, stating, "Since the summit has not yet taken place and the final wording of the document is still being coordinated, it is not the stage to say much."

Earlier, the White House also announced a separate statement related to extended deterrence timed with President Yoon's arrival in the U.S. Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, stated in a briefing, "The two leaders will issue a statement addressing extended deterrence in the context of North Korea's evolving threats." Sullivan added, "The statement will send a very clear and verifiable signal that the U.S. can be trusted regarding the extended deterrence commitments made to South Korea and its people," and further noted, "We recognize that South Korea has faithfully fulfilled its non-proliferation obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and expect it to continue doing so."

President Yoon and U.S. President Biden shaking hands at the Korea-U.S. summit held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last November.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently, the 'formalization of the Korean-style nuclear umbrella' is being discussed. The Korean-style nuclear umbrella is a measure considered to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korea's nuclear threats, essentially documenting the participation of the South Korean government in the operation of U.S. nuclear assets to retaliate if North Korea launches a nuclear attack on South Korea. Until now, the Korea-U.S. alliance has only confirmed the principle of extended deterrence at a general level through joint statements. However, if the two leaders finalize this wording at the upcoming summit, it will represent a significant achievement in the 'security alliance' sector, which is one of the main goals of President Yoon's state visit to the U.S.

The bipartisan resolution pushed by both the U.S. Congress's House and Senate welcoming President Yoon's state visit also adds momentum. The resolution, jointly proposed by lawmakers from both parties, includes commitments to further strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance, a core pillar of peace and security. It also contains statements such as "Welcoming President Yoon's state visit and urging both countries to use this opportunity to expand security, economic, and people-to-people exchanges," and "The Korea-U.S. alliance is a key pillar for peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and a critical element for peace in the Indo-Pacific."

In addition to extended deterrence, the summit is expected to reveal outcomes related to investment, strengthening human ties, cyber cooperation, and climate change mitigation. Chief Kim stated, "The Korea-U.S. alliance is one of the most successful alliances in modern world history, and through this visit, President Yoon will review the 70-year history of the Korea-U.S. alliance and create an opportunity to declare the future we will build together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.