Regardless of who becomes the Democratic Party leader, hardliners on 'nuclear' issues dominate

Ruling Party Leadership Candidate Favoring Independent Nuclear Armament Theory
Continues Strong Messages Regardless of US Approval

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Following President Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks, the political sphere is once again witnessing the resurgence of the 'independent nuclear armament' debate. Most ruling party leadership candidates are also hawkish, raising concerns that the president and the ruling party leader making strong nuclear statements side by side could escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The opposition party has also criticized this, saying "security is becoming precarious."

All Leadership Candidates Are 'Serious About Nukes'

According to political circles on the 13th, most ruling party leadership candidates advocate for redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons, nuclear sharing, or even independent nuclear armament.

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min has repeatedly mentioned the need for a "game changer" through social media (SNS), emphasizing the necessity of NATO-style or Korean-style nuclear sharing, and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo has proposed Korean-style nuclear sharing by sharing tactical nuclear weapons stationed at U.S. bases in Guam or Okinawa.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Na Kyung-won, a former lawmaker who is a strong contender for the party leadership, also emphasized on SNS last October that "the ruling and opposition parties should put various opinions on the table?from redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons, NATO-style nuclear sharing, to independent nuclear armament?and engage in fierce debates" as a response to North Korea's nuclear threat.

The most hawkish positions are held by lawmakers Kim Ki-hyun and Cho Kyung-tae, who argue that independent nuclear armament is necessary beyond redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons or nuclear sharing. Through SNS, lawmaker Cho cited former President Park Chung-hee's saying, "A mad dog is best dealt with a club," and insisted, "We should take this opportunity to pursue nuclear development to protect freedom and peace."

Lawmaker Kim also stated, "Ultimately, only by achieving a balance of terror through nuclear armament can we deter North Korea's provocations and protect freedom and peace."

Yoon Sang-hyun, a former chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, is relatively moderate among the leadership candidates regarding nuclear issues. He raises practical concerns such as withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and international isolation, opposing immediate redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons or independent nuclear armament.

However, he does not fundamentally oppose nuclear armament. On the 11th, Yoon proposed via SNS a plan to permanently station U.S. submarines equipped with nuclear missiles outside the territorial waters of the Korean Peninsula and then engage in nuclear sharing, stating, "Independent nuclear armament is ultimately a goal that must be achieved given the geopolitical situation in East Asia." He emphasized that a long-term diplomatic plan and economic capacity are necessary for nuclear armament, so preparation time is needed.

Ruling Party Presidential Candidates Also Support "Nuclear Armament" and "Nuclear Balance"

Ultimately, regardless of the outcome of the ruling party's party convention to be held in March, both the president and the ruling party leader will be 'nuclear hawks.' Prominent ruling party presidential candidates such as Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, and Oh Se-hoon, mayor of Seoul, have also expressed support for President Yoon's remarks on nuclear armament.

Mayor Oh stated on SNS that "a 'passive nuclear umbrella' entirely dependent on the U.S. will is insufficient," and added, "We need to consider an 'active nuclear umbrella' strategy that both Korea and the U.S. can deploy and use together, or even independent nuclear armament."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mayor Hong also criticized the U.S., saying, "It is pathetic that the U.S. still chants the now impossible 30-year-old version of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as if it were a sacred scripture," and added, "Armed peace and nuclear balance are the only paths to establishing peace in Northeast Asia and the only way to check China."

The opposition party raised their voices in criticism, saying President Yoon's remarks rather bring security anxiety. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed concern at the highest council meeting held that day, saying, "Nuclear armament is not something that can be said lightly," and "It is a very serious issue that could cause a serious rift in the Korea-U.S. alliance." Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, also pointed out, "I am appalled by the president's irresponsible remarks."

The U.S. government maintained its stance emphasizing the existing "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council (NSC), said at a briefing regarding President Yoon's remarks, "President Joe Biden has committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and that has not changed."

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