On the 70th anniversary of U.S.-South Korea bilateral relations, both countries signed the “Washington Declaration” as a nuclear deterrence strategy on April 25, 2023.
Key points of Washington Declaration
- An American nuclear ballistic submarine would be deployed in the Korean peninsula;
- A a nuclear consultative group would be formed to formulate principles of joint response tactics;
- South Korea would receive Intel from the U.S. regarding nuclear advancements; and
- The U.S. will strengthen South Korea’s nuclear deterrence capabilities through joint military training programs and an annual intergovernmental simulation.
Key highlights
- The declaration reaffirmed the non-proliferation Treaty implying that South Korea would not venture into the creation of its own independent nuclear capabilities and would instead focus on deterrence measures through an alliance-based approach.
- It also mandates the U.S. President as the only ‘sole authority’ to use the nuclear arsenal of the U.S. in the event of a nuclear confrontation.
- The policy reflects big power politics where the interests of the larger power (U.S.) takes precedence.
