S.Korea’s Yoon to meet Biden as doubts grow over nuclear umbrella

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol traveled to the US on Monday for a conference with President Joe Biden at a time when South Korea is frequently questioning an alliance that has given its security for decades.

Yoon’s April 24-29 state visit is the first by a South Korean leader in 12 years and marks the 70th anniversary of a cooperation that has anchored U.S. strategy in Asia and laid the groundwork for South Korea’s economic rise.

As North Korea develops nuclear weapons and missiles, South Korea is questioning its reliance on “extended deterrence,” the American nuclear umbrella, and some senior members of Yoon’s party are calling for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons.

The Asan Institute for Policy Studies found that 54% of respondents believed the U.S. would not risk its safety to support its Asian ally.

64% favored South Korea developing nuclear weapons, while 33% opposed.

Yoon wants to increase South Korea’s role in the U.S. extended deterrence, but he hasn’t specified how.

Yoon’s deputy national security adviser said both sides were working on tangible ways to operate the extended deterrent, hoping to announce results in a joint statement following the meeting.

“What I can tell you now is that people’s interest in and expectations for extended deterrence have been great, and there are several things that have been carried out over the past year in terms of information sharing, planning and execution,” the adviser, Kim Tae-hyo, told reporters.

“We need to organize these things so that anyone can understand how this is implemented and developed in one big picture.”

On Friday, a senior U.S. official said Biden would offer “substantial” actions to dissuade a North Korean nuclear assault at the summit with Yoon.

Help Ukraine
South Koreans believe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is distracting the US from Asian threats, causing rare tension between Seoul and Washington.

Leaked U.S. documents showed South Korea’s struggles with allied demands to provide military aid to Ukraine.

South Korea, a major artillery shell maker, denies giving Ukraine dangerous weaponry, citing its relations with Russia. It only helps humanitarians.

South Korea avoids antagonizing Russia for financial reasons and Russian influence over North Korea.

Though both parties have downplayed the issue, media reports that the US was snooping on South Korean discussions about supporting Ukraine have raised hackles in South Korea.

In an interview with Reuters last week, Yoon signaled for the first time a softening of his position on arming Ukraine, saying his government might not “insist only on humanitarian or financial support” if Ukraine faces a large-scale attack on civilians or a “situation the international community cannot condone”.

A South Korean official said the government’s attitude opposing arms support for Ukraine “raised eyebrows” in some countries at a time when South Korean defense businesses had secured significant deals in Europe, including a $5.8 billion contract to sell howitzers and tanks to Poland.

Another South Korean official said the administration has been “treading a fine line” to maintain ties with Russia, but Yoon’s words could give South Korea more flexibility.

Yoon meets Biden on Wednesday. He’ll address Congress Thursday.

Yoon is convening business leaders to enhance supply chain and high-tech partnerships like chips and batteries. He’ll talk space cooperation at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.