Yoon Suk Yeol, president of South Korea, left the country on Monday for a meeting with his American counterpart, Joe Biden. Yoon’s visit to the United States from April 24-29 will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the two countries’ partnership and be the first state visit by a South Korean leader to the United States in 12 years.
With North Korea making rapid progress on its nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems, many South Koreans are beginning to wonder whether they can continue to rely on the “extended deterrence” provided by the American nuclear umbrella. Some prominent members of Yoon’s party have even called for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons.
Yoon has pushed to increase South Korea’s role in operating the U.S. extended deterrence, but it is unclear what this would entail.
A joint statement detailing the progress made toward operationalizing the extended deterrence is expected to be released by both sides following the summit, as stated by Yoon’s deputy national security adviser.
A senior U.S. official stated on Friday that Biden would pledge “substantial” measures to reinforce U.S. commitments to deter a North Korean nuclear attack during the summit.
