China warns US plan to send nuclear submarines to South Korea will exacerbate tensions in the region

BEIJING – The plan of the United States (US) to send submarines armed with nuclear weapons to South Korea (South Korea) is likely to exacerbate tensions in the region.

The warning was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) of China. Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden announced the placement with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Speaking to the press on Thursday (27/4/2023), Chinese Foreign Ministry (MoFA) spokesperson Mao Ning argued, “The US, in order to pursue its own geopolitical interests and ignore regional security, insists on exploiting the peninsula issue to create tension.”

He then accused Washington of getting caught up in a Cold War mentality as well as undermining the nuclear non-proliferation system and efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

On Wednesday, President Biden received the South Korean president at the White House where the two leaders unveiled the “Washington Declaration.”

Speaking to reporters, the US head of state stated the “expanded deterrence” against “North Korean nuclear and missile threats” would have a nuclear dimension as well.

“We’re going to do visits to, nuclear submarine port visits and things like that,” Biden said.

The US President also said, to ensure “closer cooperation, closer consultation” the two countries had also agreed to form a body called the Nuclear Consultative Group.