Tensions on the Korean peninsula continue to rise

Tensions on the Korean peninsula continue to rise after a US nuclear armed submarine docked in South Korea on Tuesday, a major provocation aimed at North Korea.

Through a South Korea US alliance upgraded to a new nuclear based paradigm, we will make substantial efforts to fundamentally block North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korean President

• Rising tensions on the Korean peninsula
  

  Korean peninsula tensions

  The US has deployed a nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine to South Korea.

The docking of the USS Kentucky an Ohio class submarine in the South Korean port of Busan marks the first time since 1981 that a US nuclear armed submarine has arrived in the country.

Since US nuclear armed submarines can covertly patrol waters anywhere in the world and have long range missiles, docking one in South Korea has no strategic value, exposing the move as nothing more than a blatant provocation of Pyongyang by the Biden administration.

The move is, in all likelihood, meant to send a stern message to China.

US President Joe Biden agreed to deploy a nuclear armed submarine to South Korea in April, when the South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, visited Washington.

• US deploys nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea
  

  US deploys nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea

  The US deploys a nuclear ballistic missile-capable submarine to South Korea.

The two leaders also agreed to increase cooperation on nuclear deterrence and established the U.S.-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), which held its first meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on Tuesday.

China and North Korea have, time and again, criticized the group's formation as further increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Protesters staged a rally against the NCG meeting in front of the presidential office. The demonstrators carried signs that read "dismantle NCG" and "opposition to the deployment of nuclear submarines".

The meeting was led by South Korean Deputy National Security Director, Kim Tae-hyo, and Kurt Campbell, Biden's top Asia official on the National Security Council.

The group released a statement following the meeting emphasizing that any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States, or its allies, is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime.

• North Korea has launched two ballistic missiles in response to provocative US move of deploying nuclear-armed submarine to South Korean port
  

  North Korea fires two missiles after nuke-armed US submarine docks in South

  North Korea fires two warning missiles into the sea after an American nuclear-armed submarine makes its first South Korean port call in decades.

The submarine deployment and NCG meeting came a few days after North Korea launched a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile.

Since early 2022 North Korea has conducted over 100 missile tests, the US and South Korea have resumed massive war games and live fire drills resulting in a series of tit for tat escalations.

The Biden administration has made no efforts to de escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula or to pursue talks with Pyongyang.

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, said on Monday that the US deployment of a nuclear armed submarine would make diplomacy even less likely, and warned the North was ready to resolutely counter any violations of its sovereignty.

• North Korea vows to respond to an agreement reached recently between the South and the United States allowing the deployment of American nuclear assets to the Korean Peninsula.
  

  North Korea vows response to US-South's nuclear agreement

  North Korea vows to respond to a nuclear agreement reached recently between the South and the US.

North Korea has strongly condemned the agreement to deploy US nuclear assets in South Korea, as the two sides start talks to coordinate their responses in the event of a nuclear war with the North.

Last week, the North Korean Defense Ministry denounced the presence of a US nuclear missile capable submarine in Korean waters warning that its deployment to the Korean peninsula may incite the worst ever nuclear conflict.

North Korea has vowed to respond proportionally to the agreement reached recently between the South and the United States allowing the deployment of American nuclear assets to the Korean peninsula.

• North Korea threatens US with nuclear retaliation amid rising tensions
  

  North Korea threatens US with nuclear retaliation amid rising tensions

  North Korea has warned that the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons by the United States on the Korean Peninsula "effectively meets" the conditions for Pyongyang to use nukes.

Pyongyang says the agreement would only result in making peace and security of Northeast Asia, and the world as a whole, exposed to more serious danger and it is an act of that can, thus, never be welcomed.

The North issued the warning in April less than a week after Yoon and Biden made the announcement.

Meanwhile, tensions are running high on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea test fired two ballistic missiles the day after a US nuclear capable submarine arrived in South Korean territorial waters, just a week after Pyongyang test fired an intercontinental ballistic missile.

North Korea has been under harsh sanctions by the United States and the United Nations Security Council for years over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

• US imposes fresh sanctions on North Korea despite Treasury warning
  

  US imposes fresh sanctions on North Korea despite Treasury warning

  The United States has imposed fresh punitive measures on North Korea, targeting the country’s missile program.

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