U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol held White House talks on Wednesday to deepen collaboration on deterring North Korean nuclear escalation amid anxiety about its growing arsenal of missiles and bombs.
"Today we celebrate the ironclad alliance, the shared vision of our future and a deep friendship -- the Republic of Korea and the United States," Biden said in welcoming Yoon to the White House during a pomp-filled arrival ceremony."The ROK-U.S. alliance is an alliance of values, standing together to safeguard the universal value of freedom," Yoon told thousands gathered on the South Lawn of the White House.
North Korea's rapidly advancing weapons programs - including ballistic missiles that can reach U.S. cities - has raised questions about whether the U.S. would really use its nuclear weapons to defend South Korea under what it calls "Opinion polls in South Korea show a majority of the public wants Seoul to acquire its own nuclear bombs, a step Washington opposes.
While the allies will make a fresh appeal to North Korea to engage in diplomacy, Washington will deploy imposing military technology, including a ballistic-missile submarine, to South Korea in a show of force, senior U.S. administration officials told reporters in a briefing call. It will be the first such submarine visit since the 1980s, they said.
"This is modeled after what we did with European allies during the height of the Cold War in similar periods of potential external threat," said one senior Biden administration official.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US announcing new moves to deter North Korea nuclear attack on South KoreaThe United States on Wednesday will announce steps designed to deter North Korea from launching a nuclear attack on South Korea, according to officials.
Read more »
U.S. to send nuclear ballistic subs to South Korea to deter North’s threatThe U.S. will deploy nuclear submarines to South Korea for the first time in 40 years under a new agreement that strengthens Washington's commitment to defend Seoul against nuclear threats from North Korea, White House officials said.
Read more »
U.S. to send nuclear submarines in new pledge to protect South Korea from North's threatsPresident Joe Biden and his counterpart, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, will sign the new agreement in Washington on Wednesday, officials said.
Read more »
Biden to reassure South Korea’s security amid rising threat from NorthPresident Biden plans to use a state visit by South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol to launch a set of new measures aimed at publicly countering the growing nuclear threat from North Korea.
Read more »
U.S. to Send Nuclear Submarines to Protect South Korea From NorthFor the first time in more than 40 years the U.S. will send nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea, as Kim Jong Un’s regime has been testing ballistic missiles at a higher frequency over the last several months.
Read more »
US sanctions target three in China for laundering North Korean cyber haulsThe United States on Monday announced sanctions on three people it said were involved in laundering virtual currency stolen by North Korean hackers to help finance Pyongyang's weapons programs.
Read more »