Biden promises to ‘END’ any regime that launches a nuclear attack

President Joe Biden vowed on Wednesday to destroy any regime that launched a nuclear strike against the United States or its partners as he warned North Korea

He made the pledge while standing next to his South Korean counterpart in the White House shortly after the two agreed a new deterrence pact that gave Seoul a central role in strategic planning for the use of nuclear weapons for the first time.

As part of the Washington Declaration, the US will send a nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles to South Korea in a show of force, the first such visit since the 1980s.

In return, South Korea promised not to pursue its own nuclear weapons.

“Washington’s statement is a prudent step to strengthen expanded deterrence and respond to the advancing nuclear threat from the DPRK,” he said, using shorthand for North Korea.

“Look, a nuclear strike by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partners or partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of any regime that would take such action.”

North Korea is rapidly developing nuclear weapons and the missiles to fire them.

It recently tested ballistic missiles with the range to reach US cities, raising the question of whether the US was ready to defend South Korea against attacks from its harsh neighbour.

The South Korean public is urging Seoul to develop its own nuclear deterrent, a policy Washington opposed.

The Washington Declaration gives Seoul a greater role in US planning through a new consultative group.

But Biden said it would stop stationing US nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula.

“I have absolute authority as commander in chief and sole authority to use a nuclear weapon, but you know, what the statement means is that we will do everything we can to consult our allies, when necessary,” he said.

While it falls short of what South Korea wanted, President Yoon Suk Yeol welcomed the moves.

“President Biden has reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to comprehensive deterrence toward the Republic of Korea,” he said.

“Our two countries have agreed to hold immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea and pledge to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively with the full force of the alliance.”

At a joint press conference, Biden was asked whether legislation designed to bring chip production from China to the US had harmed South Korea.

My desire to increase US manufacturing and jobs in America is not about China. I’m not worried about China. Don’t forget that America invented semiconductors,” he said.

The goal, he said, was to ensure that the US was not dependent on foreign supply chains that could be controlled by adversaries.

“And two major South Korean companies have decided to invest billions of dollars in chip production in the United States,” he said.

“It wasn’t designed to hurt China, so it wasn’t designed for us to worry about whether or not we had access to semiconductors.”