Washington Census -UPSC Current Affairs

Description

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Context

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in the U.S. to commemorate the 70th anniversary of U.S.-South Korea bilateral relations.
A highlight of the visit was the signing of the “Washington Declaration” as a nuclear deterrence strategy.

What was the trigger for the visit?

The successful launch of North Korea’s Hwasong-8 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a vital component for nuclear weapons delivery.

About Washington Declaration

The agreement outlines cooperation towards deterrence.

Provisions:

An American nuclear ballistic submarine would be deployed in the Korean peninsula.
A nuclear consultative group would be formed to formulate principles of joint response tactics.
South Korea would receive Intel from the U.S. regarding nuclear advancement.
S. will strengthen South Korea’s nuclear deterrence capabilities through joint military training programs and an annual intergovernmental simulation.
The declaration reaffirmed the non-proliferation Treaty.

How does it help US?

The U.S. is hoping to make North Korea unarm itself by unarming South Korea.
North Korea creates “deterrence dilemmas for the United States and its Allies and partners,” and “a crisis or conflict on the Korean Peninsula could involve a number of nuclear-armed actors, raising the risk of broader conflict.”
Finally, the U.S. wants to control global nuclear arms production.

Challenges

While the aim is to defuse the threat, physical deployment of the arsenal can be deemed as a direct threat by opposing actors and used as leverage to act aggressively.
China criticised the agreement saying that it provokes confrontation between camps, undermines the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the strategic interests of other countries.
North Korea warned that the declaration would, “only result in making peace and security of North-East Asia and the world be exposed to more serious danger.”

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Washington Census would only result in making peace and security of North-East Asia and the world be exposed to more serious danger. Examine the validity of this statement. (150 words)