Yoon calls the U.S.-South Korea alliance “nuclear.” In response to North Korea’s escalating military threat, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared on Tuesday that the country’s alliance with the U.S. is now “nuclear-based.”
Yoon was alluding to his April meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden on Washington’s preparedness to share its nuclear preparations with Seoul in the case of war with nuclear-armed North Korea.
“North Korea is enhancing its nuclear and missile capabilities, and has legislated the use of nuclear weapons,” Yoon stated on Memorial Day.
At their Washington summit, the two leaders agreed to bolster U.S. extended deterrence, which would employ nuclear weapons to defend the South.
“The South Korea-U.S. alliance has now been elevated to ‘nuclear-based’ alliance,” Yoon added.
Last week, North Korea attempted to launch its first spy satellite, but the rocket and payload crashed into the sea.
North Korea admitted the launch failed but promised to try again and send a satellite for military surveillance.
North Korea’s ballistic missile launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Pyongyang says the restriction violates its right to self-defense and space development.
Yoon described his meetings with Biden as an agreement to use U.S. nuclear weapons in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, but Biden pledged “to make every effort to consult” with allies.
Yoon did not elaborate and spent most of his Memorial Day speech honoring those who died for the country.
South Korea’s military is salvaging much of the North’s May 31 rocket off the west coast.
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