South Korean Pres. to visit WH, discuss Pentagon leaks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Apr 2023 10:55
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South Korea's President will discuss the US' spying on Seoul exposed in the Pentagon leaks, as well as deterrence tactics, as the DPRK launches advanced ballistic missiles, while the US seeks to push Seoul into aiding Kiev with weapons and ammunition.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol stands alongside US President Joe Biden at their visit to the semiconductor factory at the Samsung Electronics Pyeongteak Campus, South Korea, 20 May 2022. (Reuters)

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is set to meet with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, as deterrence tactics aimed at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are expected to lead the discussion between the two Presidents.

Military aid to Ukraine was also identified as a main topic of the discussions as the West seeks to pressure Seoul into providing Kiev with more advanced military aid. Yoon's visit to Washinton marks the first official visit of a South Korean President to the US in almost 12 years, and coincides with the 70th anniversary of the two countries' alliance.

The trip comes in the context of advances in the DPRK's nuclear program, specifically the launching of the Hwansong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, while Washington and Seoul have stepped up drills simulating a landing in the DPRK, further stoking tensions in the peninsula.

Previously, the White House stated that the meeting comes at a "critical moment". Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor to Joe Biden said on Monday, "President Biden will reinforce and enhance our extended deterrence commitments to South Korea with respect to the threat the DPRK poses."

South Korean National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo urged the sides to work on strengthening the defensive nuclear umbrella, underlining that the hopes for extending the deterrence have been "great".

"There are several things that have been carried out over the past year in terms of information sharing, planning, and execution," Kim added, "We need to take steps to organize these things so that it can be easily understood to anyone in one big picture, how this is implemented and developed."

Biden and Yoon will follow up their meeting with a joint press conference at the White House Rose Garden, according to Biden's official schedule.

They are expected to put out a joint statement that revolves around extended deterrence, cyber cooperation, climate mitigation, foreign assistance, and mutual investments.

Arms to Ukraine

Seoul has been hesitant to send military aid and equipment to Kiev, whose ongoing conflict with Russia is taking a huge toll on its weapons systems and ammunition supplies.

Reports show that Ukraine is using up artillery shells at a higher rate than Western military-industrial complexes' production capabilities.

South Korea has refused to supply Ukraine with weapons in order to maintain stable relations with Russia, according to a South Korean news agency, citing an official in the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korea has maintained that it will support Kiev through international institutions, but will not take part in the delivery of weapons to another belligerent country.

US spies on South Korea

The recent Pentagon leaks revealed that the US has actively spied on South Korean officials, creating tensions between the two countries.

However, Yoon claimed in an NBC interview aired on Tuesday, that the leaks will have no impact on the "trust" between the two countries.

Some lawmakers of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party voiced "strong regret" over the leaks, referring to it as a clear violation of national sovereignty and a major security failure of the Yoon administration.

The leaks revealed that South Korea had agreed to send artillery shells to the United States in order to help it restock its ammo, but Seoul insisted that the "end user" should be the American military, as senior South Korean officials were concerned internally that the US would send them to Ukraine.