[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Can Our Fighter Jets Carry US Nuclear Weapons?

With the South Korean and U.S. leaders agreeing to establish the Nuclear Consultation Group (NCG) through the "Washington Declaration," attention is focused on the extent to which South Korea will participate in U.S. nuclear operations. Some speculate that South Korea's Air Force stealth fighter, the F-35A, could be equipped with nuclear weapons, but military authorities are drawing a line, saying it is impossible.

A senior military official told Asia Economy in a phone interview on the 28th that regarding the possibility of the F-35A carrying U.S. nuclear weapons, "Considering the recent security environment, the development of weapon systems, and military effectiveness, I am rather skeptical about that aspect."

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The representative U.S. nuclear weapon is the B61 nuclear bomb. In theory, South Korea’s Air Force F-35A and KF-16 fighters can also be equipped with the B61 tactical nuclear weapon. This means that if nuclear weapons are deployed on the Korean Peninsula, they could be used as a launch platform at any time. However, the South Korea-U.S. NCG has decided to maintain the existing framework of "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Instead, the NCG has promised to deploy U.S. strategic assets such as strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs) at a level equivalent to a permanent presence on the Korean Peninsula instead of deploying nuclear weapons.

The situation is different with NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group (NPG). NATO’s NPG is an alliance consultation body concerning nuclear operational planning, decision-making, and the delivery process of nuclear weapons. In the five countries and six bases included in the NPG?Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and T?rkiye?U.S. nuclear weapons are deployed.

Between 200 and 300 B61 tactical nuclear weapons are deployed at European bases. The delivery process of nuclear weapons involves five countries?Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Turkey?where U.S. nuclear weapons are stationed. This is why the U.S. nuclear warheads deployed in Europe are referred to as the "nuclear sharing mechanism."

Some speculate that while the U.S. will not deploy nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea may become more deeply involved in U.S. nuclear planning and operations for the Korean Peninsula. In the case of the NPG, all 31 NATO member countries participate in discussions on major issues related to tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, and decisions must be made unanimously by all participating countries. However, conflicts of interest among individual NATO member states are common.

The South Korea-U.S. NCG is a deputy minister-level consultative body that holds regular meetings four times a year. After each meeting, the results are reported to the presidents of both countries and reflected in the establishment of related implementation systems.

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