US, S. Korea Announce Nuclear Agreement

Facts

• The US has agreed to give South Korea more input on a potential American nuclear response to a North Korean attack in return for an agreement that the country will not develop its own nuclear weapons.¹
• The agreement, called the Washington Declaration, will give South Korean leadership more of a voice on the use of US nuclear forces to defend itself, though Washington would still retain control over the targeting and execution of weapons.²
• As part of the agreement, unveiled by US Pres. Joe Biden and South Korean Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday, the US will also deploy nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea for the first time in decades.³
• While it won't involve the US deploying nuclear weapons to the country as it did during the Cold War, America will increase the number of military assets it sends, such as nuclear-armed submarines and bombers, on a temporary basis.⁴
• The declaration will also improve joint training, information-sharing and military exercises between the two countries and contribute towards "deterring and defending" against North Korea.⁵
• The agreement comes as Yoon is visiting the White House to celebrate 70 years of alliance between the two nations, which are reportedly expected to also announce a new student exchange program.³

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Wall Street Journal, ³CNN, ⁴NBC, and ⁵CNBC.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The White House. This treaty is meant to assure the South Korean public that the US would have their back should any possible confrontation with North Korea occur. As long-time allies in the fight against authoritarianism in the East, it's the US' duty to use its global military prowess to deter any and all aggressors in the region who may seek to harm American interests and that of its many regional friends.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by CounterPunch. Yoon has enabled the warmongering US government since he first took office. In the name of "preventing" military escalation in the East, this joint doctrine is actually provoking North Korea and steering both the American and South Korean people toward an unnecessary war. Washington and Seoul have ignored the 80% of South Koreans who opposed the US strategy of provoking China and other regional "enemies."

Predictions