The South Korean president’s office further clarified that Seoul is in talks with Washington to share information, jointly plan and implement plans regarding the operation of US nuclear assets after US President Joe Biden denied that there were discussions of joint nuclear exercises with South Korea.
⠀
“South Korea and the United States, in response to North Korea’s nuclear threat, are in discussions on sharing information, joint planning and subsequent joint implementation of (these plans) regarding the operation of US nuclear assets,” Kim Eun-hye, a spokesman for the South Korean presidential administration, said.
⠀
Earlier, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, in an interview with the Joseon Ilbo newspaper, said that Seoul is in talks with Washington on “joint planning and joint exercises regarding American nuclear forces” to counter the nuclear threat of North Korea. At the same time, Yun Seok-yeol noted that this is not about “joint use of nuclear weapons,” since this wording is “burdensome” for the United States.
⠀
Therefore, South Korea and the United States should come to the conclusion that they can exchange information, plan the operation of nuclear forces and conduct exercises together.
US President Joe Biden later answered “no” to a journalist’s question about whether negotiations were underway on joint nuclear exercises with South Korea. The White House explained that such negotiations are not underway, since South Korea is not a country with nuclear weapons.
