US to send nuclear submarines to Korean Peninsula, first in 4 decades

WASHINGTON — Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday were expected to sign an agreement that includes plans to have US nuclear-armed submarines dock in the Republic of Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, media reported, citing officials as saying.

Yoon and his wife were set to be greeted with full military honors at the White House. The two presidents were scheduled to hold talks in the Oval Office before giving a news conference.

The planned dock visits are a key element of what's being dubbed the "Washington Declaration", which outlines how in addition to a beefed-up US military umbrella, the United States will increase information sharing with the ROK.

The arrangement was interpreted by The Associated Press as a nuclear deterrence to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The United States has not taken these steps, really, since the height of the Cold War with our very closest handful of allies in Europe. And we are seeking to ensure that by undertaking these new procedures, these new steps, that our commitment to extended deterrence is unquestionable," a senior US official said ahead of the summit.

Gesture of warning

Since the start of this year, the two allies have staged unprecedented large-scale joint military exercises on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK has conducted ballistic missile launch drills as a gesture of warning.

Pyongyang has said it would make a resolute response to anyone trying to encroach upon its sovereignty and security.

As a candidate for the presidency last year, Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of US bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to the ROK as he looked to offer a firmer response to "Pyongyang's threats" than his predecessor Moon Jaein.

In addition to submarines, there will be a "regular cadence" of other major platforms, "including bombers or aircraft carriers", an official said. But there will be "no basing of those assets and certainly not nuclear weapons".

Yoon's visit came just weeks after the leaks of scores of highly classified documents that have complicated relations with allies, including the ROK.

On Tuesday, Yoon and Biden visited the Korean War Memorial. Yoon also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and joined US Vice-President Kamala Harris on a tour of a NASA space facility near Washington.

Washington and Seoul are also highlighting the strong cultural links, something emphasized by Netflix's announcement of a $2.5 billion investment in the ROK content. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos met with Yoon in Washington on Monday.

Agencies Via Xinhua