Dayton Daily News

U.S., S. Korea open to expand military drills to deter N. Korea

- By Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said after meeting Saturday that they will consider expanded joint military exercises to deter the nuclear threat from North Korea at a time when there’s little hope of real diplomacy on the matter.

The announceme­nt reflects a shift in direction by both leaders from their predecesso­rs: Former U.S. President Donald Trump had considered scrapping the exercises and expressed affection for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. And the last South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, remained committed to dialogue with Kim to the end of his term despite being repeatedly rebuffed by the North.

Biden said cooperatio­n between the U.S. and South Korea shows “our readiness to take on all threats together.”

North Korea, which has defended its nuclear weap- ons and missile developmen­t as a necessary deterrence against what it describes as U.S. threats, could well respond angrily to Saturday’s announceme­nt. It has long described joint military exercises as rehearsals for an invasion, although the allies have portrayed the drills as defensive.

Biden and Yoon affirmed in remarks at a joint news conference that their shared goal is the complete denuclear- ization of North Korea. The U.S. and South Korea said in a joint statement that they were committed to a “rulesbased internatio­nal order” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The statement likely sets the stage for how the U.S. and its allies will address any challenges with North Korea.

Yet B iden also reiter- ated his offer of vaccines to North Korea as the coronaviru­s spreads at a dangerousl­y fast speed through that country, including an offer to route them through China if that was more acceptable to North Korea. Asked if he would be willing to meet with Kim Jong Un, Biden said that would depend on whether the North Korean leader was “sincere” and “serious.”

“Yes, we’ve offered vaccines, not only to North Korea but China as well,” Biden said. “We’re prepared to do that immediatel­y. We’ve gotten no response.”

The division of the Korean Peninsula after World War II has led to two radically different countries. In South Korea, Biden is touring factories for computer chips and next-generation autos in a democracy and engaging in talks for greater cooperatio­n. But in the North, there is a deadly coronaviru­s outbreak in a largely unvaccinat­ed autocracy that can best command the world’s attention by flexing its nuclear capabiliti­es.

 ?? EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? President Joe Biden shares a light moment with people at a table with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (back right) at a state dinner at the National Museum of Korea, Saturday in Seoul.
EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS President Joe Biden shares a light moment with people at a table with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (back right) at a state dinner at the National Museum of Korea, Saturday in Seoul.

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