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

President Joe Biden on Wednesday promised to destroy any regime that launched a nuclear attack on the United States or its partners as he delivered a warning to North Korea

He made the pledge as he stood beside his South Korean counterpart at the White House, soon after the two agreed a new deterrence pact giving Seoul a central role for the first time in strategic planning for the use of nuclear weapons.

As part of the ‘Washington Declaration,’ the U.S. will sent a nuclear ballistic-missile submarine to South Korea in a show of force, the first such visit since the 1980s. 

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

‘The Washington declaration is a prudent step to reinforce extended deterrence and respond to advancing DPRK nuclear threat,’ he said, using an abbreviation for North Korea.

‘Look nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partners, or partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action.’

The Wasington Declaration includes a commitment to periodically dock U.S. nuclear-armed subs in South Korea, and training agreements. USS Wyoming is shown here

North Korea has been moving rapidly to develop nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them. 

It has recently tested ballistic missiles with the range to reach American cities, posing a question about whether the U.S. was ready to defend South Korea against attack from its hardline neighbor. 

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

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

It will include periodically docking U.S. nuclear-armed subs in South Korea, and training agreements.

But Biden said it would stop short of permanently stationing U.S. nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula. 

‘I have absolute authority as commander in chief and the sole authority to use a nuclear weapon but you know, what the declaration means is that we’re gonna make every effort to consult with our allies, when it’s appropriate,’ he said.

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

‘President Biden has reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to extended deterrence towards the Republic of Korea,’ he said. 

‘Our two countries have agreed to immediate bilateral presidential consultations in the event of North Korea’s nuclear attack and promise to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively using the full force of the alliance.’ 

During a joint press conference, Biden was asked whether legislation designed to bring chip manufacturing away from China to the U.S. had hurt South Korea.

‘My desire to increase US manufacturing and jobs in America is not about China. I’m not concerned about China. Remember, America invented semiconductors,’ he said.

The aim, he said was to make sure that the U.S. was not reliant on foreign supply chains that could be controlled by adversaries. 

‘And two significant South Korean companies decided they’re going to invest billions of dollars in chip manufacturing in the United States,’ he said. 

‘It wasn’t designed to hurt China it was designed to so we didn’t have to worry about whether or not we had access to semiconductors.’

The warning to North Korea comes after it resumed intercontinental missile tests earlier this month, and the U.S. Air Force put on a massive show of strength with two B-52 nuclear bombers taking part in joint exercises with South Korea.

Stunning images released by South Korea’s Defense Ministry show two enormous USAF B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bomber aircraft soaring through the air, flanked by a squadron of South Korean F-35A and US F-16 fighter jets.

The B-52H can deliver nuclear strikes over a range of more than 8,000 miles, can cruise at an altitude of up to 55,000ft, and can carry up to 70,000lbs of payload.

The fearsome machine is one of the cornerstones of the United States’ so-called ‘nuclear triad’ – its ability to launch nuclear attacks from land-based silos, nuclear-armed submarines and nuclear-armed long-range aircraft.