South Korea and the United States have proclaimed a nuclear alliance to counter the growing threat of a first strike by Kim Jong Un.
President Yoon stated that due to the threat posed by Pyongyang, Seoul is now protected by the nuclear deterrent of the United States.
US-South Korea Alliance Upgrades
Yoon stated in a speech that North Korea is enhancing its nuclear and missile capabilities and has legislated the use of nuclear weapons, according to The Times.
"The alliance between South Korea and the United States has been elevated to a nuclear-based alliance," he added, without providing further details.
In April, Biden and Yoon inked an agreement committing the United States to reinforce its "extended deterrence" in defense of South Korea.
The agreement grants South Korea a greater say in how the United States deploys its nuclear umbrella and guarantees that it will be used to respond to a North Korean attack. However, the United States retains final authority regarding the use of nuclear weapons, as per Business Mirror.
In recent years, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has shaken regional security by deploying new missiles capable of delivering nuclear strikes to all of South Korea, which is home to approximately 28,000 US military personnel, and by escalating threats to unleash his arsenal in response to joint US-South Korean military drills.
Under Yoon, the exercises have been restored to levels not seen in over five years, when Yoon's predecessor and former US President Donald Trump scaled them down or suspended maneuvers in an attempt at rapprochement with Pyongyang that failed to reduce Kim's nuclear arsenal.
North Korea's Missile Tests
North Korea tested its largest intercontinental ballistic missile this year and attempted to launch its first surveillance satellite last week, but the rocket and payload crashed into the ocean.
North Korea made a rare and swift admission of the launch's failure, but vowed to attempt again to enhance its military surveillance capabilities by launching a satellite into orbit.
The launch was widely condemned as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology.
The North Korean government has denounced the prohibition as a violation of its sovereign right to self-defense and space development.
While Yoon characterized his discussions with Vice President Biden as an agreement to use US nuclear weapons in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, President Biden reiterated his commitment to "make every effort to consult" with allies regarding the use of nuclear weapons.
Per Yahoo, the majority of Yoon's Memorial Day address was devoted to recognizing those who had made sacrifices in defense of the nation.
The South Korean military has been conducting a salvage operation off the west coast to recover a substantial portion of the May 31 North Korean rocket launch.
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