Seoul,
Nov 7: The US and South Korea agreed on Tuesday to completely remove the
limit on the payload of South Korean ballistic missiles and discussed
introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapons, Yonhap
news agency reported.
The agreement, aimed at building up the joint deterrence against a provocative North Korea, was made at a bilateral summit between President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump here. "The heads of South Korea and the United States reached a final agreement on removing the limit on missile payloads," Moon said in a joint press conference with Trump.
The leaders also agreed to expand the rotational deployment of U.S. strategic assets to South Korea and its surrounding areas. "We also agreed to immediately begin negotiations on South Korea's development and acquisition of the most advanced military surveillance assets," he added. An official at the president Moon's office later said the discussion included Seoul's development or acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. Nuclear-powered submarines are considered asymmetrical assets that can intercept North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missiles, but are currently prohibited under a nuclear pact between Seoul and Washington.
Moon said he and the U.S. leader reaffirmed their resolve to peacefully end the North Korean nuclear standoff. They, however, stressed the importance of having what they called "overwhelming" strength over North Korea. "We are showing great strength and I think they (North Korea) understand we have unparalleled strength. With that being said, I really believe it makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and people of the world," Trump said. The US president said his country and South Korea will continue to work together to defend what they have worked so hard to build.
"We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built. We have built it very much together and we are very proud of it, also together," he said. Trump arrived here earlier Tuesday on a state visit, becoming the first U.S. president to do so in 25 years.The trip came about two months after the North staged its sixth and most powerful nuclear test so far on Sept. 3.
He urged all countries, including China and Russia, to faithfully implement U.N. Security Council resolutions against North Korea, calling the North's latest nuclear test and subsequent missile launches a threat to the entire world. UNI
The agreement, aimed at building up the joint deterrence against a provocative North Korea, was made at a bilateral summit between President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump here. "The heads of South Korea and the United States reached a final agreement on removing the limit on missile payloads," Moon said in a joint press conference with Trump.
The leaders also agreed to expand the rotational deployment of U.S. strategic assets to South Korea and its surrounding areas. "We also agreed to immediately begin negotiations on South Korea's development and acquisition of the most advanced military surveillance assets," he added. An official at the president Moon's office later said the discussion included Seoul's development or acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. Nuclear-powered submarines are considered asymmetrical assets that can intercept North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missiles, but are currently prohibited under a nuclear pact between Seoul and Washington.
Moon said he and the U.S. leader reaffirmed their resolve to peacefully end the North Korean nuclear standoff. They, however, stressed the importance of having what they called "overwhelming" strength over North Korea. "We are showing great strength and I think they (North Korea) understand we have unparalleled strength. With that being said, I really believe it makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and people of the world," Trump said. The US president said his country and South Korea will continue to work together to defend what they have worked so hard to build.
"We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built. We have built it very much together and we are very proud of it, also together," he said. Trump arrived here earlier Tuesday on a state visit, becoming the first U.S. president to do so in 25 years.The trip came about two months after the North staged its sixth and most powerful nuclear test so far on Sept. 3.
He urged all countries, including China and Russia, to faithfully implement U.N. Security Council resolutions against North Korea, calling the North's latest nuclear test and subsequent missile launches a threat to the entire world. UNI
