Amid North Korea's Repeated Provocations, Some Ruling Party Members Call for "Comprehensive Review of Nuclear Strategy"

Yoo Seung-min "Must Negotiate US Nuclear Sharing and Tactical Nuclear Redeployment"
Hong Joon-pyo "Armed Peace Through Military Balance Is Necessary"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Amid growing security threats such as North Korea's recent intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) provocations, ruling party members have called for a comprehensive review of South Korea's nuclear strategy toward the North.

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min stated on his Facebook on the 5th, "We now need to create a new game changer. We cannot just rely on the U.S. extended deterrence and remain idle," adding, "We must start negotiations with U.S. President Joe Biden on nuclear sharing and the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons." He also argued, "We need to drastically expand missile defense systems such as THAAD, SM3, the new Patriot missiles, and our domestically developed M-SAM and L-SAM."

Yoo expressed concern, saying, "Every time North Korea provokes, we parrotingly repeat 'resolute response' and 'close South Korea-U.S. cooperation.' It will be the same even if North Korea launches an ICBM or conducts a seventh nuclear test in the future."

Regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol, he said, "President Yoon opposed NATO-style nuclear sharing and nuclear armament during his candidacy. Even when he attended the last NATO summit, nuclear sharing was not brought up," emphasizing, "Now, things must change."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo also wrote on Facebook, "It is time to comprehensively review our nuclear strategy toward North Korea," questioning, "If North Korea declares attacks on the U.S. mainland and Japan with advanced nuclear capabilities and threatens to attack us with nuclear weapons, would the U.S.-Japan extended deterrence strategy be able to strike North Korea with nuclear weapons for our security?"

Mayor Hong referred to the situation in Ukraine, saying, "Ukraine is facing Russian invasion and nuclear attack threats despite promises of security guarantees, and the U.S. and U.K., who should defend it, are helpless against Russia's nuclear threats," highlighting Russia's nuclear threat against Ukraine. He added, "This could serve as a gauge for South Korea to redefine its response direction to North Korea's nuclear forces on the Korean Peninsula."

He emphasized, "National security is not peace spoken with words alone but must be armed peace through thorough military balance."

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