South Korea confirms joint nuclear exercises with US despite Biden’s rebuff

South Korea on Tuesday confirmed discussions with Washington on its involvement in US nuclear weapons operations amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after US President Joe Biden denied discussions on joint nuclear exercises.

South Korean president's top adviser for press affairs, Kim Eun-hye, in a statement said Seoul and Washington “are discussing an intel-sharing, a joint planning and subsequent joint execution plans over the management of US nuclear assets in response to North Korea’s nuclear (threats).”

Kim said Biden likely answered “no” because a reporter tersely asked him about nuclear exercises without providing any background information.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said in a newspaper interview published Monday that the two countries were discussing joint planning and training involving US nuclear assets and that the US had responded positively to it.

“The nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but planning, information sharing, exercises and training should be jointly conducted by South Korea and the United States,” Yoon said, adding Washington is also “quite positive” about the idea.

However, when asked by a reporter later at the White House about whether the two countries were discussing joint nuclear exercises, Biden replied, “No.”

Reuters cited a top US government official as saying on Tuesday that both sides were examining enhanced information sharing, joint contingency planning and an eventual tabletop exercise.

The official noted that the talks followed a request from Yoon to his American counterpart after a meeting in Cambodia last November to explore ways to address North Korea's purported threats.

The official, however, ruled out regular nuclear exercises, saying they would be "extremely difficult" because South Korea is not a nuclear power.

"This is going to be done through a variety of ways, including as President Yoon said, through enhanced information sharing, joint planning and expanding the range of contingencies that we plan for, as well as training, and with the idea eventually leading up to a tabletop exercise," the official noted.

According to the US official, the timing of the planned tabletop exercises has yet to be finalized, but they would take place "in the not-too-distant future".

The tabletop exercise is reportedly due to cover scenarios, including nuclear situations.

"The idea is to also try and make sure that we're able to fully think through the range of possibilities based on the DPRK capabilities which they've demonstrated, as well as their statements," the US official said, using an acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The North launched an unprecedented number of missiles in 2022, including firing its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile ever.

The North says the tests are in response to the United States’ growing presence in the region and its joint military drills with the South and Japan. Pyongyang considers such exercises as a provocation and rehearsal for the invasion of its territory.

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