Presidents Yoon and Biden Reaffirm Progress in ROK-U.S. Security Cooperation

President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea and President Biden of the United States met to reaffirm progress in ROK-U.S. security cooperation on extended deterrence since the announcement of the "Washington Declaration" in April 2023. The advancements made since the establishment of the ROK-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) demonstrate that the two countries are a genuine global comprehensive strategic alliance, enjoying a stronger mutual defense relationship than ever and sharing common interests in the peace, stability, and complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The NCG, established as a continuous bilateral consultative body, has been implementing the "Washington Declaration," directly enhancing ROK-U.S. cooperation on extended deterrence and managing the North Korean threat to the nonproliferation regime. In the face of North Korea's escalating nuclear threat, the NCG has been focusing on ensuring the continuous safety and security of the Korean people and U.S. forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula. The NCG has facilitated ROK-U.S. joint nuclear and strategic planning and contributes to the alliance’s efforts to enable joint planning and execution of U.S. nuclear operations with South Korean conventional support in a contingency.

Presidents Yoon and Biden acknowledged and approved the remarkable achievements made during the first year of the NCG, evidenced by the signing of the "ROK-U.S. Joint Guidance for Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula" (the "Joint Guidance Document") by the ROK and U.S. Departments of Defense. Both leaders emphasized that the "Joint Guidance Document" provides a solid foundation for strengthening integrated ROK-U.S. extended deterrence cooperation. The document offers guidance to the policy and military authorities of the ROK-U.S. alliance in maintaining and enhancing a credible and effective allied nuclear deterrence policy and posture.

The leaders reaffirmed the commitments of the "Washington Declaration" and emphasized that any nuclear attack by North Korea against South Korea would face an immediate, overwhelming, and decisive response. President Biden reaffirmed that the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence for South Korea is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear. President Yoon reiterated that all categories of South Korea's capabilities will significantly contribute to the combined defense posture of the ROK-U.S. alliance.

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