This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65404805

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Biden and South Korea's Yoon sign new agreement on nuclear weapons US and South Korea agree key nuclear weapons deal
(about 1 hour later)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is in Washington this week to discuss a range of issues with US President Joe BidenSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is in Washington this week to discuss a range of issues with US President Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have secured a landmark deal which includes plans to periodically deploy US nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea. The US and South Korea have secured a landmark deal to counter the North Korean nuclear threat.
Washington has also agreed to involve Seoul in its planning for any use of nuclear weapons against North Korea. Washington has agreed to periodically deploy US nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea and involve Seoul in its nuclear planning operations.
In return, South Korea has agreed to not develop its own nuclear weapons.In return, South Korea has agreed to not develop its own nuclear weapons.
The deal, called the Washington Declaration, will strengthen the allies' co-operation in deterring a North Korean attack, Mr Biden said. The Washington Declaration will strengthen the allies' co-operation in deterring a North Korean attack, US President Joe Biden said.
He spoke on Wednesday during a joint press conference with Mr Yoon, who is in Washington this week to discuss issues including the war in Ukraine, climate change, cyber co-operation and nuclear power. Concern has been rising on both sides about the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. Pyongyang is developing tactical nuclear weapons that can target South Korea, and refining its long-range weapons that can reach the US mainland.
The South Korean leader said the Washington Declaration - the centrepiece of this week's state visit - marked an "unprecedented" step to enhance extended deterrence, a commitment from the US to deter attacks and protect US allies using its military power, including nuclear weapons. The US already has a treaty obligation to defend South Korea, and has previously pledged to use nuclear weapons if necessary. But some in South Korea have started to doubt that commitment and call for the country to pursue its own nuclear programme.
The declaration comes amid rising concerns about nuclear threats from North Korea as the country carries out a record number of ballistic missile tests. The South Korean President, Yoon Suk-yeol, who was at the White House for a state visit, said the Washington Declaration marked an "unprecedented" commitment by the US to enhance defence, deter attacks and protect US allies by using nuclear weapons.
"It's about strengthening deterrence in response to the DPRK's [North Korea's] escalatory behaviour," Mr Biden said. The new agreement is a result of negotiations that took place over the course of several months, according to a senior administration official.
The new agreement is a result of negotiations that took place over the course of several months, senior administration officials told reporters this week.
Under the deal, the US will aim to take steps to "make its deterrence more visible through the regular deployment of strategic assets, including a US nuclear ballistic submarine visit to South Korea, which has not happened since the early 1980s", officials told reporters this week.
The two sides will also develop a Nuclear Consultative Group to discuss nuclear and strategic planning issues.
Politicians in Seoul have long been pushing Washington to involve them more in planning for how and when to use nuclear weapons against North Korea.
As North Korea's nuclear arsenal has grown in size and sophistication, South Koreans have grown wary of being kept in the dark over what would trigger Mr Biden to push the nuclear button on their behalf. A fear that Washington might abandon Seoul has led to calls for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons.
Why South Koreans want the nuclear bombWhy South Koreans want the nuclear bomb
Under the new deal, the US will make its defence commitments more visible by sending a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea for the first time in four years, along with other strategic assets, including nuclear-capable bombers.
The two sides will also develop a Nuclear Consultative Group to discuss nuclear planning issues.
Politicians in Seoul have long been pushing Washington to involve them more in planning for how and when to use nuclear weapons against North Korea.
As North Korea's nuclear arsenal has grown in size and sophistication, South Koreans have grown wary of being kept in the dark over what would trigger Mr Biden to push the nuclear button on their behalf.
A fear that Washington might abandon Seoul has led to calls for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons.
But in January, Mr Yoon alarmed policymakers in Washington when he became the first South Korean president to put this idea back on the table in decades.But in January, Mr Yoon alarmed policymakers in Washington when he became the first South Korean president to put this idea back on the table in decades.
It suddenly became clear to the US that reassuring words and gestures would no longer work, and if it was to dissuade South Korea from wanting to build its own bombs, it would have to offer something concrete. It suddenly became clear to the US that reassuring words and gestures would no longer work and if it was to dissuade South Korea from wanting to build its own bombs, it would have to offer something concrete.
Furthermore, Mr Yoon had made it clear that he expected to return home having made "tangible" progress.Furthermore, Mr Yoon had made it clear that he expected to return home having made "tangible" progress.
This new Nuclear Consultative Group ticks the box, providing the increased involvement the South Korean government has been asking for, but the bigger question is whether it will quell the public's anxieties. Duyeon Kim, from the Centre for a New American Security, said it was a "big win" for South Korea to be involved in nuclear planning.
"Until now, tabletop exercises would end before Washington's decision to use a nuclear weapons," said Ms Kim.
"The US had considered such information to be too classified to share, but it is important to practice and train for this scenario the types of nuclear weapons North Korea is producing."
This new Nuclear Consultative Group ticks the box, providing the increased involvement the South Korean government has been asking for. But the bigger question is whether it will quell the public's anxieties.
It does not ink a total commitment from the US that it would use nuclear weapons to defend South Korea if North Korea were to attack.It does not ink a total commitment from the US that it would use nuclear weapons to defend South Korea if North Korea were to attack.
However on Wednesday Mr Biden said: "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action". However, on Wednesday Mr Biden said: "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action."
Plans for a nuclear-armed submarine to visit South Korea for the first time in four decades adds further weight to the US commitment.
In return, the US has demanded that South Korea remain a non-nuclear state and a faithful advocate of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The US sees dissuading South Korea from going nuclear as essential, fearful that if it fails, other countries may follow in its footsteps.In return, the US has demanded that South Korea remain a non-nuclear state and a faithful advocate of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The US sees dissuading South Korea from going nuclear as essential, fearful that if it fails, other countries may follow in its footsteps.
But it is unclear how this commitment will be received by the influential, and increasingly vocal, group of academics, scientists and members of South Korea's ruling party who have been pushing for Seoul to arm itself. But this commitment is unlikely to fully satisfy the influential, and increasingly vocal, group of academics, scientists and members of South Korea's ruling party who have been pushing for Seoul to arm itself.
Dr Cheong Seong-chang, a leading proponent of South Korea going nuclear said that while the declaration had many positive aspects, it was "extremely regrettable that South Korea had openly given up its right to withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT", adding that this had "further strengthened our nuclear shackles".
President Biden said the US was continuing efforts to get North Korea back to the negotiating table. Washington says Pyongyang has ignored numerous requests to talk without preconditions.
The US hopes to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, but last year the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the country's nuclear status "irreversible".
Some experts say it now makes more sense to discuss arms control rather than denuclearisation.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
North Korea weapons programme
Yoon Seok-youlYoon Seok-youl
South KoreaSouth Korea
Nuclear weaponsNuclear weapons
United StatesUnited States
North Korea
Joe BidenJoe Biden