Yoon and Biden vow to respond 'overwhelmingly' to a North nuclear attack

Seoul and Washington agreed to respond "overwhelmingly and decisively" using the full force of the alliance in the event of Pyongyang's nuclear attack, said President Yoon Suk Yeol after a bilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden Wednesday.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden shake hands during a press conference after a summit at the White House in Washington on Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

WASHINGTON — South Korea and the United States agreed to respond "overwhelmingly and decisively" using the full force of the alliance in the event of a nuclear attack by the North, President Yoon Suk Yeol said after a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden Wednesday.

Yoon and Biden adopted the "Washington Declaration" to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korean nuclear and missile threats during their talks at the White House in Washington.

"Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of North Korea's nuclear attack," Yoon said, "and promised to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance, including the U.S. nuclear weapons."

Yoon made the remarks during a press conference with Biden in the Rose Garden following their 80-minute conversation in the Oval Office.

Biden warned that a "nuclear attack by North Korea" against the United States or its allies is "unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime, were it to take such an action."

Through the declaration, the two presidents announced the establishment of a mechanism to strengthen extended deterrence, discuss nuclear and strategic planning and manage the threat to the nonproliferation regime posed by North Korea.

Yoon outlined that Seoul and Washington agreed to establish a Nuclear Consultative Group "to map out a specific plan to operate the new extended deterrence system."

Biden called the Washington Declaration "a prudent step to reinforce extended deterrence and respond to advancing DPRK nuclear threat," referring to the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

While noting that he has the sole authority as commander-in-chief to use nuclear weapons, Biden said that the declaration means that "we're going make every effort to consult with our allies when it's appropriate if any actions are so called for."

Biden added that the United States is "not going to be stationing nuclear weapons" on the Korean Peninsula but plans to have port visits for nuclear submarines.

Under the declaration, the allies will work to enable joint execution and planning for South Korean 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 peninsula.

Yoon said that the allies "will share information on nuclear and strategic weapon operations plans in response to North Korea's provocations and have regular consultations on ways to plan and execute joint operations that combine Korea's state-of-the-art conventional forces with the U.S. nuclear capabilities."

Leaders of the two countries will be briefed on the results of the information sharing on a regular basis, he said.

The two countries also agreed to further advance tabletop exercises against a potential nuclear crisis.

Deployment of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula "will be made constantly and routinely," Yoon added.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden review troops in an arrival ceremony at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

Earlier Wednesday, Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden received Yoon and first lady Kim Keon-hee at the White House in an arrival ceremony.

The first couples were reunited after spending time together the previous evening visiting the Korean War Veterans Memorial and exchanging gifts at the White House.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between our two nations," Biden said at the ceremony. "It's an unbreakable bond, forged in bravery and the sacrifice of our people, sanctified by the blood of American and Korean troops who fought and defended liberty."

Biden noted that the two countries are "standing strong against Russia's brutal aggression against Ukraine, advancing an Indo-Pacific region that is free and open, building secure and resilient supply chains and pioneering the clean energy economy, investing together to ensure our future will be grounded in the values that we share."

This marks the first state visit by a Korean president to the United States in 12 years. Yoon became Biden's second state guest after French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the White House last December.

A state visit is the highest-level visit by a foreign leader, typically involving more pomp and ceremony.

The two leaders welcomed the growth of investment between the countries.

From left, first lady Kim Keon-hee, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wave from a balcony at the White House in Washington on Wednesday as they kick off their bilateral summit. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

In a statement commemorating the alliance, the leaders said they will increase comprehensive global cooperation, deepen robust regional engagement and broaden "ironclad bilateral ties during the next 70 years" to "face the 21st century's most difficult challenges head-on."

As a global comprehensive strategic alliance, the two leaders reflected on the vital role of the two countries as "global leaders in advancing democracy, economic prosperity, security, and technological innovation."

The statement also highlighted expanding cooperation throughout the Indo-Pacific region and strengthening ironclad bilateral cooperation.

The two sides said they are "deepening and broadening all aspects" of the relationship at a "breakneck speed," ranging from resilient supply chains and investing in critical technologies and strategic sectors, including the semiconductor and critical mineral sectors, to combating the climate crisis and accelerating the clean energy transition.

The leaders said they "appreciated" the recent efforts made on both sides to alleviate concerns of Korean businesses over the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act.

Yoon and Biden also recognized that the alliance applies to cyberspace and space. They committed to establishing a Strategic Cybersecurity Cooperation Framework to expand cooperation on deterring cyber adversaries and combat cybercrime, including North Korea's illicit cyber activities.

They also committed to deepening their people-to-people ties and educational cooperation.

The statement said that the relationship is marked by "longstanding investment, trade, technological, and people-to-people ties, which have led to significant economic opportunity and prosperity for both countries and will continue to do so for the next 70 years."

From left, first lady Kim Keon-hee, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for a photo ahead of their state dinner at the White House in Washington on Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Later Wednesday, the Korean first couple joined the Biden couple for a black-tie state dinner at the White House, celebrating the two countries' friendship.

"Behavior that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere," Yoon said at the beginning of the banquet, quoting Irish poet Seamus Heaney, a favorite of the U.S. president.

"We stand at an inflection point," Biden said. "I've never been more optimistic about our nations, what we can achieve together, if we continue to work together as allies and as friends."

Toasting to Yoon, he said, "May we do it together for another 170 years."

Yoon also quoted an Irish saying, "A good friend is like a four-leaf clover — hard to find and lucky to have," comparing the four-leaf clover to Korea-U.S. ties.

He toasted "our ironclad alliance."

Around 200 guests attended the banquet, including 35 business leaders from the Korean delegation.

Notable attendees included actor Angelina Jolie and her 21-year-old son, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, a student at Yonsei University, Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim and former Major League Baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho.

Broadway stars Norm Lewis, Jessica Vosk and Lea Salonga performed at the event.

The U.S. first lady worked with Korean American chef Edward Lee and White House chefs to develop the menu for the dinner, which included Maryland crab cake and braised beef short ribs.

Dessert included banana split with lemon bar ice cream and mint ginger snap cookie crumble with doenjang (fermented soybean paste) caramel.

Angelina Jolie, left, and her son Maddox Jolie-Pitt arrive for the state dinner with U.S. President Joe Biden and Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the White House in Washington Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden toast each other at the state dinner attended by around 200 guests at the White House in Washington on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

U.S. President Joe Biden, left, reacts as President Yoon Suk Yeol sings ″American Pie″ by Don Mclean during the state dinner at the White House in Washington, Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]