No Nuclear Weapons for South Korea
No Nuclear Weapons for South Korea
2023-04-28
The United States and South Korea signed a landmark agreement Wednesday. The agreement gives Seoul a greater decision-making role in U.S. contingency planning against a possible North Korea nuclear attack. That’s in exchange for Seoul agreeing not to pursue its own nuclear weapons program. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from the White House.
President Joe Biden affirmed the U.S. commitment to defend against North Korean aggression as he welcomed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a pomp-filled state visit, just the second such visit of his administration.
Joe Biden
US president
Look, a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partisan – partners – is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action.”
Pyongyang has “greatly increased its missile launch activities” this year and last, the United Nations says. Under the new Washington Declaration, the two allies will bolster defenses against Pyongyang. The United States will set up a Nuclear Consultative Group to allow greater information sharing and give Seoul a greater voice in deliberations over U.S. weapons deployment. In return, Seoul will maintain its non-nuclear status in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty it ratified in 1975. Yoon, on Wednesday, welcomed the agreement.
Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korean president
In the event of North Korea’s nuclear attack, and [our countries] promised to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively, using the full force of the Alliance including the United States’ nuclear weapons.”
Biden said the two presidents also discussed security beyond the Korean Peninsula.
Joe Biden
US president
We discussed our work together on promoting peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and beyond. Excuse me. I also affirmed – we together affirmed our shared commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine against Russia’s brutal assault on their freedom or territorial integrity and democracy.
The U.S. and South Korea have been allies since the end of the Korean War, 70 years ago, but analysts say there are questions in South Korea about the strength and credibility of the agreement.
Scott Snyder
Council on Foreign Relations
It takes it off the table the possibility of any kind of South Korean development of an indigenous nuclear capability, and it really bolsters the idea that the U.S. and South Korea are going to address North Korea together.
But, Snyder added, the potential for cooperation continues to grow, including in space. On Tuesday, Yoon and Vice President Kamala Harris explored the two nations’ growing ties in space exploration and security, with a tour of a NASA facility near Washington. That’s a sign, he said, that this partnership may go to a new frontier. Anita Powell, VOA News, the White House.
遏阻北朝鮮核武威脅 拜登與尹錫悅發表「華盛頓宣言」
2023-04-28
美韓兩國總統在週三會後，發表「華盛頓宣言」，加強合作遏阻北朝鮮的核武威脅，南韓則承諾將謹守1975年簽署的《核不擴散條約》，不發展自己的核武器。來自美國之音的報導。
美國總統拜登在白宮歡迎抵美進行國是訪問的南韓總統尹錫悅，重申美國致力於嚇阻北朝鮮的威脅。尹錫悅是拜登上任後第2位到華府進行國是訪問的外國領袖。
[[美國總統 拜登]]
“北朝鮮發動核武攻擊，無論是針對美國、盟友或夥伴，都是不可接受的，只要北朝鮮採取類似行動，就會導致政權覆滅。”
聯合國表示，北朝鮮這兩年更加頻繁發射彈道飛彈。美、韓發表新的「華盛頓宣言」，將攜手加強防禦北朝鮮的威脅。美國將成立一個「核諮商小組」可以即時分享情報，並讓南韓在美國武器部署問題上有更大的發言權。南韓則承諾將謹守1975年簽署的《核不擴散條約》，不發展自己的核武器。
[[南韓總統尹錫悅]]
“如果北朝鮮發動核武攻擊，(我國)承諾將動用盟友的全部力量，包括美國的核武器，迅速、壓倒性地和果斷地作出反應。”
雙方也討論了朝鮮半島以外的安全問題。
[[美國總統 拜登]]
“今天我們討論了共同努力，促進台海和平穩定，確保南海與其他地區的航行自由。我們也承諾與烏克蘭人民同在，反對俄羅斯對烏克蘭自由、領土完整與民主的野蠻攻擊。”
美韓自70年前韓戰結束以來，就一直保持著盟友的關係，不過，有專家對該協議的效力和可信度語帶保留。
[[美國外交關係協會 史奈德]]
“這個協議抹殺了韓國發展任何形式本土核能力的可能性，並且確實支持了美韓將共同解決北朝鮮問題的想法”
不過，史奈德強調，兩國合作的潛力無窮，包括航太領域。週二，尹錫悅在美國副總統賀錦麗陪同下參觀了華盛頓附近的NASA設施，兩國將更進一步在太空探測及安全領域密切合作。史奈德表示，這是一個跡象，顯示兩國的夥伴關係可能會進入一個新的領域。
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