Pacific Perspective:Washington Declaration Marks Turning Point in Korea Strategy

On 26 April 2023,President Joseph R. Biden hosted Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol in a State Visit at the White House.In consequence of their discussions,which followed months of preparation,a sea change occurred on the Korean Peninsula as expressed in the Washington Declaration: The ROK has full confidence in U.S. extended deterrence commitments and recognizes the importance,necessity and benefit of its enduring reliance on the U.S. nuclear deterrent.The United States commits to make every effort to consult with the ROK on any possible nuclear weapons employment on the Korean Peninsula,consistent with the U.S. Nuclear Posture Review's declaratory policy,and the Alliance will maintain robust communication infrastructure to facilitate these consultations. The Declaration stipulates that: The Alliance commits to engage in deeper cooperative decision-making on nuclear deterrence.The two Presidents announced the establishment of a new Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) to strengthen extended deterrence,discuss nuclear and strategic planning,and manage the threat to the nonproliferation regime posed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).In addition,the Alliance will work to enable joint execution and planning for ROK conventional support to U.S. nuclear operations in a contingency and improve combined exercises and training activities on the application of nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula.In keeping with the Presidents' commitments,the Alliance has established a new,bilateral table-top simulation to strengthen our joint approach to planning for nuclear contingencies.President Biden reaffirmed...that any nuclear attack by the DPRK against the ROK will be met with a swift,overwhelming and decisive response.President Biden highlighted the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence to the ROK is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities,including nuclear.Going forward,the United States will further enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula,as evidenced by the upcoming visit of a U.S. Ballistic Missile submarine to the ROK,and will expand and deepen cooperation between our militaries.Furthermore,the United States and ROK will strengthen standing bodies for consultations on extended deterrence,including the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group,to better prepare the Alliance to defend against possible attacks and nuclear use and conduct simulations to inform joint planning efforts.* President Yoon affirmed that the ROK will apply the full range of its capabilities to the Alliance's defense posture.This includes working in lockstep with the United States to closely connect the capabilities and planning of the new ROK Strategic Command.Such activities will include a table-top exercise with U.S. Strategic Command.* Thus,in light of the DPRK's belligerence and possession of up to 20 nuclear weapons and development of ICBMs capable of striking the U.S.,more U.S. strategic assets,including bombers,will be deployed to ROK.In the past,President Yoon has called for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers,aircraft carriers and nuclear-armed submarines to offer a firmer response to DPRK's threats,CBS News pointed out.Ohio-class Ballistic Missile submarines armed with strategic nuclear weapons,the Trident D5 ICBMs,will be making port calls in ROK.The Trident missiles carry warheads of varying explosive power,ranging from tactical nuclear weapon strength up to strategic blast capability.Ballistic Missile nuclear-armed submarines haven't been deployed to Korea since the 1980s.No nuclear weapons will be deployed on land without consultation under the Washington Declaration. The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Marine Corps Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II,as well as the Navy's F-35C Lightning II,are aircraft carrier nuclear-capable fighter jets.* Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)