[Full Text] Joint Statement by Presidents Yoon and Biden on ROK-US Korea Peninsula Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations Guidelines

On the 10th (local time), at the official welcoming dinner reception for the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held at the White House in Washington DC, President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee (center on the second-floor balcony) are watching the event together with U.S. President Joe Biden and the First Lady (center in the front row), who hosted the event, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the heads of state and their spouses from NATO allied and partner countries. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden held a South Korea-U.S. summit on the 11th (local time) on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, adopting a joint statement approving the update of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) between the defense ministries of the two countries.

The full text is as follows.

President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea and President Joseph R. Biden of the United States met on July 11, 2024, to reaffirm progress in South Korea-U.S. security cooperation on extended deterrence since the announcement of the "Washington Declaration" in April 2023.

The progress since the launch of the South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) demonstrates that the two countries are a true global comprehensive strategic alliance with a stronger mutual defense relationship than ever before, sharing common interests in peace, stability, and complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Established as a continuous bilateral consultative body, the NCG has implemented the "Washington Declaration," directly strengthening South Korea-U.S. cooperation on extended deterrence and managing North Korea’s threats to the non-proliferation regime.

Facing North Korea’s advancing nuclear threats, the NCG has focused on ensuring the ongoing safety and security of the South Korean people and U.S. forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula, promoting joint nuclear and strategic planning between South Korea and the U.S.

The NCG contributes to the South Korea-U.S. alliance’s efforts to enable joint planning and execution of South Korea’s conventional support for U.S. nuclear operations in contingencies.

Additionally, the NCG promotes continuous improvement of combined South Korea-U.S. exercises and training activities through regular tabletop exercises and whole-of-government simulations.

President Yoon and President Biden commend and approve the remarkable achievements made in the first year of the NCG, evidenced by the signing of the "South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations Guidelines (Joint Guidelines Document)" between the defense ministries of both countries.

The two leaders emphasized that the "Joint Guidelines Document" provides a solid foundation for strengthening integrated South Korea-U.S. extended deterrence cooperation.

The "Joint Guidelines Document" offers guidance to the policy and military authorities of the South Korea-U.S. alliance in maintaining and enhancing a reliable and effective allied nuclear deterrence policy and posture.

The two leaders reaffirmed the need to continue rapid progress on NCG tasks, including expanded security procedures and information sharing, nuclear consultation procedures during crises and contingencies, nuclear and strategic planning, South Korea’s conventional support for U.S. nuclear operations through South Korea-U.S. nuclear-conventional integration, strategic messaging, exercises, simulations, training, investment activities, and risk reduction measures.

The two leaders reaffirmed the commitments of the "Washington Declaration" and emphasized that any nuclear attack by North Korea against South Korea will face an immediate, overwhelming, and decisive response.

President Biden reiterated that the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to South Korea is backed by all categories of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear.

President Yoon reaffirmed that all categories of South Korean capabilities will significantly contribute to the combined defense posture of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.