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