Security Relations
Visit of President Barack Obama and Nuclear Security Summit 2012
March 2012
Seoul, Republic of Korea
The 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit was held in Seoul in March 2012 with participation from more than 53 heads of states and international organizations.
Photo Gallery
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March 26 - 27, 2012 (more photos)
U.S. President Barack Obama arrives to speak at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo)
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March 25, 2011 (more photos)
President Barack Obama waves upon arrival at Osan Air Base to attend the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo)
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Remarks by President Obama, President Medvedev of Russia, and President Nazarbayev of Kazakstan at Trilateral Announcement
March 27, 2012 - PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV: (As interpreted.) Well, probably as all of you know that Semipalatinsk nuclear test site was one of the largest nuclear test sites in the world, together with Nevada. And about 500 nuclear tests have been carried out on this test site, 70 of them in the open air.
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Remarks by President Obama at Opening Plenary Session of the Nuclear Security Summit
March 27, 2012 - PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you very much, President Lee, for welcoming us here today and for the extraordinary hospitality and accommodations that have been provided by the Republic of Korea. We are very grateful to you, and we are grateful to the Korean people for the outstanding leadership in bringing us here together in Seoul.
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Remarks by President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia After Bilateral Meeting
March 26, 2012 - PRESIDENT MEDVEDEV: (As interpreted.) So I would like to start by saying, once again, that together with my friend and colleague Barack Obama, we had a very substantial discussion of different issues of our agenda of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Russia.
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Remarks by President Obama and President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan Before Bilateral Meeting
March 26, 2012 - PRESIDENT OBAMA: It is wonderful to see once again President Nazarbayev from Kazakhstan. And I want to first of all congratulate him on his leadership for the issues that are going to be discussed over the next two days.
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Remarks by President Obama and President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China Before Bilateral Meeting
March 26, 2012 - PRESIDENT HU: (As interpreted.) A month ago, Vice President Xi Jinping made a successful visit to the United States. I asked him to hand to the President my reply to earlier letter, and I want to thank the American side for the warm hospitality and for all the arrangements made for his visit.
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Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey after Bilateral Meeting
March 25, 2012 - PRESIDENT OBAMA: I just want to say how much I appreciate the opportunity to once again meet with my friend and colleague, Prime Minister Erdogan. I think it's fair to say that over the last several years, the relationship between Turkey and the United States has continued to grow across every dimension. And I find Prime Minister Erdogan to be an outstanding partner and an outstanding friend on a wide range of issues.
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Joint Statement by the United States, Chile, Poland, Nigeria, Morocco, Thailand, and the Republic of Korea on the Nuclear Security Summit Outreach Efforts
March 26, 2012 - In order to promote the goals of the 2010 Nuclear Security Communique to secure nuclear material and prevent nuclear terrorism, and specifically its call to strengthen global nuclear security through dialogue and cooperation with all states, the governments of Chile, Poland, Nigeria and Thailand, and Morocco hosted regional outreach meetings as a forum to collaboratively discuss nuclear security challenges in each of their particular regions.
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Remarks by President Obama at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
March 26, 2012 - PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. (Applause.)
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Ask President Obama
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul held a competition inviting South Koreans to submit questions via social media for President Obama. The top three most interesting questions received written responses from President Obama – those questions, and the President’s answers...
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Remarks by President Obama and President Lee Myung-bak in Joint Press Conference
March 25, 2012 - PRESIDENT LEE: (As interpreted.) I apologize for running a little late, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. President, distinguished members of the press, it's good to see my good friend again. The last time we met was four months ago. Welcome to Korea, Mr. President.
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Remarks by the President During Meet and Greet with Troops
March 25, 2012 - THE PRESIDENT: It's good to see you. (Applause.) Thank you. Well, listen, I'm not going to give a long speech, because I just want to make sure that I get a chance to shake everybody's hands. I just want to point out that I was just presented this spiffy jacket. And so whoever arranged to make sure that it fit -- I'm sure it wasn't the General -- I appreciate it. (Laughter.)
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Press Briefing on The President's Upcoming Trip to the Republic of Korea
Deputy NSC Advisor Rhodes (March 20, 2012) -“We’ll be arriving in Korea on the morning of Sunday, March 18th -- no, sorry, sorry, March 25th. And the first event that the President will do is he will visit the demilitarized zone, which will be an important opportunity for him to meet with and see some of the American troops who are serving on the Korean Peninsula, while also underscoring the strength of our alliance with the Republic of Korea and our strong commitment, of course, to their security.”
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Nuclear Security Summit Op-Ed
March 24, 2012 - Two years ago in Washington, 50 world leaders gathered for the historic first Nuclear Security Summit, and pledged concrete action to lock down nuclear material, disrupt nuclear trafficking, and prevent nuclear terrorism.As the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit nears, the world will return its focus to nuclear security and bring this important issue back to the top of the political agenda.In Seoul, world leaders will highlight progress and make new pledges for action...
- Basic Objectives (source: 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit page)
The possibility of nuclear terrorism became a real threat after 9/11, which increased the importance of strengthening nuclear security to prevent nuclear materials from being misused by terrorist groups. There is a need to recognize the importance of nuclear security at the summit level and seek cooperation, as the threat of nuclear terrorism cannot be addressed by a single nation. - Background (source: 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit page)
President Obama stated in his 2009 Prague speech that nuclear terrorism is a serious threat to international security, and expressed his will to lead global efforts to protect nuclear materials as part of his plan to realize his vision of a "world free of nuclear weapons." More - The Significance of the Hosting of the Summit in Seoul (source: 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit page)
Korea has established its status as an advanced country by securing the hosting of a whole range of international meetings in the economic, cultural, and sports fields including the hosting of the 2010 G20 Seoul Summit. The holding of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit means that Korea has gained even greater standing in the international community in the security field as well. In addition, it is meaningful that Korea will play a leading role in establishing global governance in the security and political fields just as it played a significant role in the economic field through the hosting of the 2010 G20 Seoul Summit. - Participants (source: 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit page)
Heads of 53 states which participated in the 1st Washington Nuclear Security Summit. (Republic of Korea, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam). - Heads of international organizations which participated in the Washington Summit (the UN, IAEA, and EU).
- INTERPOL was added to the group of participants as agreed upon between the participating countries and international organizations.
1st Nuclear Security Summit (April 12-13, 2010, Washington, D.C.)
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Press Conference by the President Obama (April 13, 2010)
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. We have just concluded an enormously productive day. I said this morning that today would be an opportunity for our nations, both individually and collectively, to make concrete commitments and take tangible steps to secure nuclear materials so they never fall into the hands of terrorists who would ... Communiqué of the Washington Nuclear Security Summit »
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U.S. Embassy Seoul Special Webpage: 2010 Nuclear Security Summit
On April 12-13, 2010, President Obama hosted a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, to enhance international cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism, an issue which he has identified as the most immediate and extreme threat to global security. President Obama invited over 40 nations to participate, representing a diverse set of regions and various levels of nuclear materials, energy, and expertise.
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Photo Gallery: 2010 Nuclear Security Summit (7 photos)
Photo Gallery: 2010 Nuclear Security Summit (7 photos)
USG Publications
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A World Free of Nuclear Weapons
Since the first atomic bombs exploded in 1945, some have tried to rid the world of nuclear weapons. President Obama has embraced this goal with new vigor. This issue of eJournal USA examines the challenges to achieving nuclear disarmament. It conveys the hopes of some thinkers, and explains the doubts of others.
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Today's Nuclear Equation
While that Cold War threat of nuclear annihilation has receded, this edition of Foreign Policy Agenda examines the elements in today's nuclear equation. Instead of superpowers facing off, we encounter rogue states, stateless terrorist organizations bent on acquiring the means of mass murder, and black-market networks of renegade suppliers...
Related Materials
- U.S. Department of State : The Outcomes of the 2010 Washington Summit
- U.S. Department of State: Nuclear Security Summit, Washington, D.C., April 12-13, 2010 (Key Documents, Fact Sheets, etc)
- U.S. Department of State: Nuclear Security Summit
- Remarks by Laura Holgate, Senior Director, National Security Staff, on Progress Since the 2010 Washington Nuclear Security Summit (October 7, 2011)
- 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit Site
- 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit-Events
- U.S. Department of State: Nuclear Security Summit, Washington, D.C., April 12-13, 2010 (Key Documents, Fact Sheets, etc)
- U.S. Department of State: Nuclear Security Summit
- Remarks by Laura Holgate, Senior Director, National Security Staff, on Progress Since the 2010 Washington Nuclear Security Summit (October 7, 2011)
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