The leaders of South Korea and the United States have convened for their first in-person meeting since Joe Biden took office as US President. The South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, arrived in Washington on Thursday where he was greeted with a full military welcome ceremony along with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The meeting is expected to focus on several key issues concerning North Korea’s nuclear threat, South Korea’s interest in developing its own nuclear weapons, and possible restrictions on tech exports and semiconductors.
North Korea’s growing nuclear weapons programme, coupled with China’s increasing influence, has created significant security challenges for both South Korea and the US. Moon is under pressure to foster good relations with the US on how to handle these issues and nuclear threats from North Korea. The Biden administration has been trying to work with allies in the region, including South Korea and Japan. However, the changing political environment has hampered efforts to maintain unity on the issue.
South Korea’s interest in developing its own nuclear weapons is another issue the two leaders are likely to discuss. Seoul has been seeking Washington’s permission to increase the capability of its ballistic missiles and extend the range beyond the current limit of 800km. While the United States has been wary of South Korea’s intentions, it is also interested in maintaining a unified front against North Korea’s nuclear threat.
The US President is also expected to discuss possible restrictions on tech exports that South Korea has been calling for. South Korea has repeatedly made calls to remove such restrictions that are hindering its semiconductor industry’s growth. Biden could potentially ease these restrictions amid the current global semiconductor shortage.
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