'Reemergence of "Tactical Nuclear Deployment on the Korean Peninsula" [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]'

U.S. Congress, Pro-Nuclear Deployment Lawmakers Positioned on Foreign Affairs and Security Committees
If South Korea-U.S. Share Tactical Nuclear Weapons, Modified NATO Model Likely

The issue of ‘redeploying tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula’ is resurfacing. This is because a large number of figures advocating the necessity of redeploying nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula have been positioned ahead of the launch of the second term of the Donald Trump U.S. administration and the U.S. Congress next month.

The United States' tactical nuclear bomb B-61 for aircraft deployment (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

The 119th U.S. Congress will convene on the 3rd of next month. According to the standing committee assignments, notable figures among the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee, which have significant influence on U.S.-Korea relations and U.S. policy toward North Korea, are Representative Jim Risch (Idaho) and Representative Roger Wicker (Mississippi). Risch is expected to be elected as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Wicker as chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

What draws attention is that both lawmakers have stated that “the extended deterrence (nuclear umbrella) currently provided to South Korea is insufficient to deter North Korea’s nuclear threat.” Their argument is that tactical nuclear weapons should be redeployed to South Korea. In May, Representative Wicker mentioned the need to increase the U.S. defense budget and proposed measures such as △ redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula △ sharing nuclear weapons with South Korea similar to NATO. Representative Risch expressed a similar view. At the same month’s hearing on ‘The Future of Arms Control and Deterrence,’ he evaluated that extended deterrence in Asia is particularly weak and suggested redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons. Even Donald Trump, who has mentioned withdrawing or reducing U.S. forces in South Korea, is likely to consider redeploying tactical nuclear weapons as a possible option if he returns to the White House.

If the U.S. introduces a tactical nuclear weapons sharing system with South Korea, many believe it will be a modified NATO-style approach. The U.S. is known to have deployed a total of 200 to 300 B61 series tactical nuclear bombs at six bases in five countries: Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey.

It is also possible not to deploy nuclear weapons on South Korean territory but to share them with the U.S. Tactical nuclear weapons could be deployed on Guam, the closest U.S. territory to the Korean Peninsula, and used jointly in emergencies. South Korea’s Air Force could be assigned a ‘Dual-Capable Aircraft (DCA)’ mission, enabling its F-35A stealth fighters to carry and drop U.S. tactical nuclear bombs, thereby facilitating sharing.

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