South Korea Might Seek Return of U.S. Nukes
NTI: Global Security Newswire
November 22, 2010
South Korea might request to again host U.S. tactical nuclear weapons, the Financial Times reported today (see GSN, April 21).
Defense Minister Kim Tae-young discussed the matter today with South Korean lawmakers following reports that Pyongyang had allowed a U.S. scientist to view a previously secret uranium enrichment facility (see related GSN story, today).
Lawmakers questioned Kim on the possible return of U.S. nuclear weapon to South Korea. He responded, “I will review what you said in consultation with members of the [U.S.-South Korean] Extended Deterrence Policy Committee.”
Washington is believed to have pulled its tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea in 1991. Kim’s statement is sure to aggravate the neighboring regime and to worry China and Japan — two members of the six-party talks aimed at North Korean denuclearization, according to the Times.
Former South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said in April that Seoul had no intention of again hosting U.S. nonstrategic nuclear arms. However, there is support for such a move among harder-line elements in the country.
“Even though relocating nuclear weapons to South Korea could provoke China or Russia, it could be an effective tool to press the North,” said analyst Cheon Seong-whun (Christian Oliver, Financial Times, Nov. 22).
The United States keeps 28,500 military personnel in South Korea as defense against the North and says its ally remains under the protection of the U.S. nuclear umbrella (Xinhua News Agency, Nov. 22).
