Yoon Suk Yeol says Washington Declaration upgrades alliance

Diplomacy

Published: 02 May. 2023, 18:33 Updated: 02 May. 2023, 19:27

Yoon Suk Yeol says Washington Declaration upgrades alliance

President Yoon Suk Yeol presides the Cabinet meeting at the Yongsan presidential office on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk Yeol said the so-called Washington Declaration announced last week "upgraded" the Korea-U.S. national security alliance "to a new paradigm based on nuclear defense."

Yoon said the declaration was the biggest achievement made during his visit to Washington last week.

"The Washington Declaration specifies the action plan for the extended deterrence between the heads of state between Korea and the U.S.," Yoon said. "The Nuclear Consultative Group is more practical than NATO's [Nuclear Planning Group] in that Korea, and the U.S. will be holding more frequent and deeper conversations on a one-on-one basis."

He said the U.S. will regularly station strategic assets around the Korean Peninsula.

"We will establish strong national security where future generations can live out their dreams in comfort with peace through overwhelming strength instead of a false peace that relies on the goodwill of others," Yoon said.

"It is important that we start filling in the details of the Washington Declaration [regarding] the process of sharing information, joint planning and joint execution of U.S. nuclear assets," Yoon said.

The president said that the newly created dialogue channel between the two countries' national security councils on next-generation core and emerging technologies will act as a "control tower" for the Korea-U.S. technology alliance.

"Through the latest visit to the U.S., major U.S. companies in high-tech industries decided to invest $5.9 billion, and 50 [memoranda of understanding] between companies and institutions in the two countries were concluded."

Yoon also mentioned achievements in the economic alliance.

"The upgraded national security alliance is now expanding to supply networks, an industrial alliance and a science and technology alliance," Yoon said.

He said in science and technology, the alliance between the two countries — which previously focused on semiconductors and batteries — has now widened to include new technology areas such as clean hydrogen, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and small module reactors.

"A synergy that benefits both countries can be created between core U.S. original technologies and Korea's state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity," Yoon said. "Also, we can also access original core technologies led by the U.S. through joint research and joint R&D investment."

Yoon particularly noted that the U.S. is an optimal partner for expanding friend-shoring between the two counties as both countries not only share the value of freedom but also have closely connected economic infrastructure.

"We were able to confirm the passion for supply chain cooperation during the business roundtable between the 120 Korean businesspeople who accompanied me on the trip and U.S. global businesspersons," Yoon said.

"Good examples are how American biopharmaceutical companies are increasing investment in production facilities in Korea and how Korean battery companies are transforming Georgia and Michigan into an electric vehicle hub," Yoon said.

Yoon stressed that an alliance is the highest and closest form of diplomatic relationship, adding that the 70-year alliance between Korea and the U.S. has been the backbone of Korea's freedom and prosperity.

"The history of the 70-year alliance should not be taken for granted," Yoon said. "In a relationship between two countries, it is the dignity of a nation to know when to thank another country."

Yoon said last week's summit was just the beginning.

"The scope of the alliance will expand further," Yoon said. "Through the latest summit, we were able to erect five pillars — national security, industry, science and technology, culture and information — with the value alliance as the foundation," Yoon said.

"The visit to the U.S. was a time spent not only to celebrate the Korea-U.S. alliance of 70 years but also to reflect on the history through which the alliance has passed and discuss the blueprint for the future," Yoon said.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]