‘Nuclear trap’ lies ahead for Seoul

US tactical weapons could be both blessing and curse

Controversy is rising over whether South Korea should redeploy U.S. tactical nuclear weapons here as deterrence against North Korea’s growing nuclear threat.

While supporters say Seoul should have nuclear armament for defense balance as Pyongyang is virtually a nuclear state, many experts say having such weapons will bring considerable side effects such as a larger defense cost payment to the U.S. and a backlash from neighboring countries including China.

Conservative political parties are calling for the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons, which the U.S. pulled out of South Korea in 1991 as a prelude to the two Koreas’ joint declaration on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Even some members of liberal parties, including the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, are asking for redeployment. Rep. Kim Joong-ro of the minor opposition People’s Party said, “50 million people in South Korea have been taken hostage by the North’s nuclear weapons. We have to consider all options including redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons.”

North Korea’s sixth nuclear test earlier this month has also increased positive public opinion toward redeployment: a Korean Society Opinion Institute survey showed Sunday that 68.2 percent of 1,014 adults consented to redeployment to defend against North Korea’s nuclear threats.

However, the Moon Jae-in government keeps saying that it has not considered the issue. “Our stance for denuclearization of the peninsula has not changed,” a Cheong Wa Dae offi- cial said on condition of anonymity. “If we adopt the nuclear weapons, we’ll lose our moral ground for denuclearization of North Korea, and it is possible all Northeast Asian countries will enter into a nuclear arms race.”

Jeong Se-hyun, head of the Korea Peace Forum and former unification minister under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, said that having tactical nuclear weapons means South Korea accepts North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons as fact.

“People say the North already has nuclear weapons so the South should have them as well for a balance of defensive power,” Jeong said in a recent radio interview. “But if tactical nuclear weapons are redeployed here, we will be caught in our own trap where we cannot demand the North give up its nuclear weapons.”

Having such weapons will also place financial pressure on Seoul, as chances will grow for the U.S. to demand South Korea bear a greater share in the cost of keeping American troops here, with the defense cost talks scheduled to begin next year.

“(If U.S. tactical nuclear weapons are redeployed,) the U.S. could pressure South Korea to pay more or buy more weapons in the upcoming defense talks,” said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the Institute for Far East Studies of Kyungnam University.

Redeploying tactical nuclear weapons will also bring a backlash from neighboring countries: China and Russia do not want an expansion of the U.S. military influence in Northeast Asia, and Japan and Taiwan may seek their own nuclear armament.

“The U.S. is already providing Korea with a nuclear umbrella. The claim for redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the peninsula is rather emotional, and is a foolish act that makes neighboring countries, such as China and Russia, tense,” said Roh Hoe-chan, floor leader of the minor opposition Justice Party.