Opposition Party on Washington Declaration: "No Change in US Nuclear Umbrella"

Ruling Party Leadership Launches Full-Scale Offensive on Korea-US Summit
"Yoon Must Apologize for Submissive Diplomacy to the US"

The floor leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea collectively criticized the 'Washington Declaration,' which includes measures to strengthen the U.S. extended deterrence, as "a summit that sacrificed national interest and practical benefits" and stated that "there is no difference from the U.S. nuclear umbrella policy."

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the party's policy coordination meeting on the 27th, "We emphasized so much that this Korea-U.S. summit should not be just a simple state visit, but it turned out to be a summit that thoroughly sacrificed national interest and practical benefits in exchange for protocol and hospitality," adding, "Security experts basically say that there has been no progress since the 2021 Korea-U.S. summit and are questioning what has significantly changed from the existing U.S. nuclear umbrella policy."

President Yoon Seok-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed on the principle of 'peace through strength' through the Washington Declaration on the 26th (local time). The two leaders confirmed their policy to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly, and decisively with all forces, including nuclear weapons, in the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea.

Floor leader Park said, "From the start, President Yoon caused controversy through foreign media interviews, and the main axis of discussion shifted as the U.S. wanted from the beginning," adding, "Security issues such as North Korean nuclear weapons and requests for weapons support for Ukraine became the main agenda."

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He continued, "Even when asked by reporters about 'Korean companies being anxious about the U.S. Semiconductor Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA),' President Biden only gave a vague evasive answer that 'Korea doing well aligns with the overwhelming interests of the U.S.'," adding, "President Yoon merely said, 'We agreed to closely consult and coordinate to further strengthen the supply chain cooperation between the two countries in advanced technology sectors under the U.S. IRA and Semiconductor Act.'"

Kim Min-seok, chairman of the Policy Committee, also criticized, "This Korea-U.S. summit agreement, which blocks Korea's independent nuclear development theory and officially reconfirms that the authority to use nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula rests solely with the U.S., shows no significant progress in terms of innovation, comprehensiveness, or effectiveness compared to the extended deterrence strategies pursued by all previous progressive and conservative Korean governments."

He said, "Ultimately, while respecting the alliance interests between Korea and the U.S., it is the Democratic Party's role to protect the national interests of the Republic of Korea," and added, "The Democratic Party will promptly pass the bill proposed by Representative Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party, based on the party's stance, which requires National Assembly approval for military support to conflict zones, regarding the currently ambiguously left issue of military support to Ukraine."

In addition, they promised to pursue ▲ the reopening of the emergency military communication line ▲ the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines to Korea ▲ and U.S. cooperation to correct Japan's historical distortions.

Representative Kang Min-jung also criticized the Korea-U.S. summit, saying, "The president, who should protect peace considering the geopolitical uniqueness, is leading the escalation of the nuclear war crisis on the Korean Peninsula and increasing the risk of mutual destruction by specifying nuclear attack and retaliation," and added, "President Yoon, who damages national interest through submissive diplomacy toward Japan and the U.S., diminishes national dignity and self-esteem, and even endangers security, should kneel and apologize before the people."

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