US, South Korea 'strongly deterrence' North Korea

Washington [US], April 28: For the first time since the 1980s, a US Navy submarine armed with a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile will arrive in South Korea to demonstrate Washington's resolve to defend its ally against the threat posed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) . Korea . According to Yonhap, the information was announced in a joint statement after the summit between US President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol in Washington on April 26 (local time).
Historical deal
The two leaders announced the agreement, dubbed the "Washington Joint Declaration," with a focus on strengthening deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. According to Yonhap, increasing deterrence means the US is committed to mobilizing all of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to protect allies. The United States will take more explicit deterrence measures, such as the regular deployment of strategic assets, including nuclear submarines carrying ballistic missiles, to South Korea. However, the US side stressed that those weapons are not permanently stationed and Washington has no plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula.
President Yoon said the two countries agreed to establish a "Nuclear Consultative Group" to specifically administer the new deterrence system. The two sides will share information on nuclear and strategic operations, plan and hold regular discussions on how to carry out joint operations between the ROK's advanced non-nuclear force and its nuclear force. American people. In addition, President Biden warned Pyongyang firmly that any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States, allies or partners is "unacceptable and will lead to the end of the regime." performance of that action". However, Mr. Biden said the US wanted a substantive diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea to strengthen stability on the Korean peninsula. . Pyongyang did not immediately respond to the above developments, while China's Foreign Ministry warned the US and South Korea of ​​"inciting confrontation" with the North, and called on all sides to promote a peaceful settlement on the border. Peninsula.
Something unusual
Ballistic missile submarines rely on stealth and secrecy to ensure survivability and surprise nuclear missile strikes in the event of war. Therefore, they rarely visit foreign ports. "The fact that US submarines call at a South Korean port can be a huge pressure on North Korea, because they usually don't share the location of these submarines," retired submarine officer Moon Keun-sik told Reuters. Korean. Retired South Korean submarine captain Choi Il said it would be unusual and symbolic for such a submarine to dock in South Korea, presenting a stronger deterrent to North Korea and reassuring South Korea. Country.
The US Navy operates 14 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Each Ohio-class submarine carries 20 Triden II D5 missiles, with each missile carrying eight nuclear warheads that can hit targets up to 12,000 kilometers away. However, according to AFP, expert Cheong Seong-chang at the Sejong Institute (South Korea) asked if Pyongyang was concerned, because the range is "too long" so it may not be easy to launch to North Korea from the sea. Korea. Yang Moo-jin, an expert at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, also said it was unlikely that North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons in the face of such deterrence.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper