South Korea-US Leaders: "Immediate, Overwhelming, Decisive Response to Any North Korean Nuclear Attack on Han"

US-ROK Summit on the Occasion of NATO Summit
Joint Statement on 'Korean Peninsula Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operation Guidelines'
ROK-NATO Mutual Airworthiness Certification Agreement Signed... First in Asia

President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden held a summit on the 11th (local time) in Washington D.C., United States, on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, adopting a joint statement on the "ROK-U.S. Joint Statement on the Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula" that includes strong measures to respond to North Korea's nuclear provocations. The two leaders strongly criticized Russia and North Korea for recently signing a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement to strengthen military and economic cooperation, and agreed that the ROK and the U.S. will firmly maintain their combined defense posture and resolutely respond together with the international community to the Russia-North Korea cooperation that violates United Nations Security Council resolutions.

In the joint statement, the two leaders reaffirmed the "Washington Declaration" pledge made last year to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance as a nuclear-based alliance, stating that "any nuclear attack by North Korea against South Korea will be met with an immediate, overwhelming, and decisive response." President Biden emphasized, "The U.S. extended deterrence commitment to South Korea is backed by all categories of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear," while President Yoon said, "All categories of South Korean capabilities will greatly contribute to the ROK-U.S. alliance's combined defense posture."

President Biden - President Yoon Suk-yeol Summit Meeting

The two leaders evaluated that "the progress since the launch of the ROK-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) demonstrates that the two countries are a true global comprehensive strategic alliance and maintain a stronger mutual defense relationship than ever before." They added, "The NCG contributes to the ROK-U.S. alliance's efforts to jointly plan and execute South Korea's conventional support for U.S. nuclear operations in times of contingency," and explained, "The NCG promotes continuous improvement of combined ROK-U.S. exercises and training activities through regular tabletop exercises and whole-of-government simulations."

They also agreed to continue rapid progress on NCG tasks, including ▲security procedures and expanded information sharing ▲nuclear consultation procedures during crises and contingencies ▲nuclear and strategic planning ▲South Korea's conventional support for U.S. nuclear operations through ROK-U.S. nuclear-conventional integration ▲strategic messaging ▲exercises, simulations, training, and investment activities ▲risk reduction measures.

Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, briefed at the press center set up in Washington D.C., saying, "After intensive discussions, the two governments agreed on the text in June, and today the official signing by the defense ministries of both countries took place. With the joint statement by President Yoon and President Biden approving this, an integrated extended deterrence system involving both the ROK and the U.S. has been established." He emphasized, "While the existing extended deterrence was decided and provided by the U.S., it has now evolved into extended deterrence jointly involving our organization, personnel, and assets in nuclear operations on the Korean Peninsula." This means that through the 'nuclear-conventional integration' of U.S. nuclear forces and South Korea's advanced conventional forces, the South Korean military will perform information sharing, consultation planning, exercises, and training operations related to nuclear operations on the Korean Peninsula together with the U.S. military, thereby acquiring practical nuclear response capabilities and posture.

Yoon: Indo-Pacific Four Countries and NATO Solidify Solidarity

Official Welcome Dinner Reception for NATO's 75th Anniversary Held at the White House
(Washington=Yonhap News) Reporter Hong Haein = On the 10th (local time), at the White House in Washington DC, during the official welcome dinner reception for the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee (center, 2nd floor balcony) are attending the event alongside U.S. President Joe Biden and the First Lady (center, front row), who hosted the event, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and heads of state and their spouses from NATO allied and partner countries.

Before the summit with President Biden, President Yoon met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Washington Convention Center (WCC) bilateral meeting hall in the morning, stating, "The solidarity between the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) partner countries (South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia) and NATO has been further solidified." President Yoon and Secretary General Stoltenberg agreed that the recent military cooperation between North Korea and Russia poses a threat not only to regional security but also to global security, and indicated that cooperation between South Korea and NATO will be further strengthened.

President Yoon explained, "Last year, three of the IP4 countries signed individual tailored agreements with NATO," adding, "This year, New Zealand has signed the ROK-NATO Individual Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP)." He emphasized, "The four IP4 countries will devise key cooperative projects and closely collaborate with NATO on supporting Ukraine and responding to hybrid threats and containment."

In particular, cooperation between South Korea and NATO on cyber threats will be strengthened. President Yoon said, "This year, we plan to invite NATO officials again for cyber exercises," and added, "I am pleased that our aircraft have received airworthiness certification from NATO to ensure mutual military interoperability." During this NATO summit, an airworthiness certification recognition agreement was signed between South Korea and NATO. This certification recognizes the South Korean government's capability to certify flight safety. A presidential office official said, "South Korea is the first Asian country to sign such a certification with NATO," and expressed expectations that "this certification will facilitate our aircraft exports and accelerate defense industry cooperation in the aviation sector between South Korea and NATO." Based on this certification, the time required for mutual recognition of airworthiness certification with individual NATO member countries is also expected to be shortened in the future.

Secretary General Stoltenberg pointed out, "Currently, North Korea is supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine by supplying a significant amount of ammunition and military equipment, but the concern is that in return, Russia is providing support for North Korea's nuclear and missile program development." He added, "North Korea's nuclear and missile programs pose a threat not only to regional security but also to global security." He expressed hope to further strengthen cooperation with South Korea, saying, "We will prepare a NATO IP4 key cooperation project document to seek deeper collaboration."

President Yoon also attended the IP4 summit meeting in the morning. Hosted by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, this was the third IP4 summit following those in 2022 and 2023, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles also present. At the meeting, President Yoon emphasized, "To avoid repeating the unfortunate history of war, strong and overwhelming deterrence and the 'power of cooperation' among countries committed to upholding a rules-based international order are necessary." The four leaders agreed that Russia's support for North Korea's military capability enhancement violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and that the international community must unite to firmly respond to the illegal Russia-North Korea military cooperation. They also issued a joint statement at the IP4 level regarding Russia-North Korea military cooperation and agreed to closely cooperate to advance NATO-Indo-Pacific regional cooperation.

Meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy... Trust Fund Doubled

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who visited the United States to attend the 75th NATO Summit, attended the official welcome dinner reception at the White House in Washington DC on the 10th (local time) with First Lady Kim Keon-hee. They greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska on the balcony.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the IP4 summit, President Yoon met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The IP4 leaders listened to President Zelenskyy's briefing on the recent situation in Ukraine and efforts to restore peace. President Yoon expressed concern over the continued innocent civilian casualties caused by Russia's ongoing airstrikes targeting major cities and civilian facilities in Ukraine. He stated that the South Korean government will continue to provide security support, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction assistance to Ukraine under the "Ukraine Peace Solidarity Initiative" announced last year. Additionally, the South Korean government announced plans to double its contribution to the NATO Ukraine Trust Fund from $12 million this year to $24 million next year.

In the afternoon, President Yoon attended the NATO Public Forum, co-hosted by NATO and five think tanks from the U.S. and Europe, where he was the sole speaker for the Indo-Pacific session. This was the first time a South Korean president spoke at the NATO Public Forum. President Yoon stated, "The war in Ukraine and the cooperation between Russia and North Korea have further solidified the cooperation between the Republic of Korea and NATO," adding, "The Republic of Korea will neutralize and block the illegal military and economic cooperation between Russia and North Korea through the ROK-U.S. alliance, ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation, and close coordination with NATO member countries."

After a busy five-day, two-night schedule in the U.S., including stops in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Washington D.C., where President Yoon held summit meetings with about ten countries including the U.S., Japan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, he departed for South Korea in the afternoon and is scheduled to arrive on the evening of the 12th.