Why Do South Korea and the U.S. Deny the Use of Nuclear Weapons Against North Korea?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] South Korea and the United States have rebutted claims that "Operation Plan (OPLAN) 5027 includes the use of nuclear weapons." This response came after American journalist Bob Woodward's new book, Rage, conveyed the idea that "the U.S. reviewed OPLAN 5027, which contemplates regime change in North Korea and includes the possibility of using 80 nuclear weapons," causing a stir. The possibility of using 80 nuclear weapons appears to be a mistranslation of the number of nuclear warheads North Korea possesses.

On the 14th (local time), U.S. Strategic Command Commander Charles Richard was asked whether the joint U.S.-South Korea operational plan for contingencies on the Korean Peninsula, OPLAN 5027, includes the use of nuclear weapons. He avoided a direct answer, stating, "I cannot discuss specific operational plans." He added, "Regardless of the situation or which operational plan needs to be reviewed, our military will be prepared to support any requests," responding in a general manner.

The Blue House also denied the reports. It rebutted domestic media claims that the U.S. reviewed an implementation plan for OPLAN 5027 in 2017, which included regime change against North Korea and the use of 80 nuclear weapons, stating that these reports are not factual.

The reason South Korea and the U.S. have rebutted is that the United Nations Command, which leads the joint operational plans, does not have the authority to use nuclear weapons. Operational plans (OPLANs) are U.S. military operational plans classified by the planning unit into four-digit numbers and managed as 'OPLAN 0000.' The 1000 series is prepared by U.S. Central Command, the 2000 series by U.S. Northern Command, and plans exist up to the 9000 series. The plans applicable to South Korea are prepared by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, a joint service command, and start with the 5000 series. These include OPLAN 5029 for contingencies in North Korea, OPLAN 5027 for full-scale war, and OPLAN 5015, which integrates peacetime plans responding to localized provocations.

However, it is known that the plans do not include provisions for the use of nuclear weapons. The final approval authority for nuclear weapon use is the U.S. President, currently Donald Trump. If the U.S. President approves the use of nuclear weapons, strategic nuclear weapons such as the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Minuteman-3, submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Trident-2, and air-launched cruise missiles from B-2 or B-52H bombers can be employed.

Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), said, "The decision to use nuclear weapons is not made by the United Nations Command but approved by the U.S. President," adding, "A plan to use nuclear weapons, which could cause a global catastrophe, cannot be part of the United Nations Command's operational plans but is likely included in the U.S. Strategic Command's plans."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.