Edgard Kagan, a senior U.S. official in the National Security Council, clarified that the Washington Declaration does not constitute a nuclear-sharing agreement. The declaration emphasizes the U.S.’ commitment to consult with South Korea on any possible nuclear weapons employment on the Korean Peninsula. “So let me just be very direct. I don’t think that we see this as a de facto nuclear sharing,” said Kagan. This statement followed South Korean deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo’s comment to reporters, “Going forward, our citizens will de facto feel as if we are sharing nuclear weapons with the U.S.”

During a joint press conference with President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that the U.S. would not station nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Instead, the Washington Declaration indicates that the U.S. will “further enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula,” including visits to the ROK by U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarines.