Why a Democratic Party-led South Korea will reject nuclear weapons



Analysis Why a Democratic Party-led South Korea will reject nuclear weapons Credibility deficit left in wake of Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law will force DP to prioritize alliance and stability John LeeDecember 24, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON President Yoon Suk-yeol inspects the military during South Korea's Armed Forces Day, driving past a Hyunmoo-5 missile, Oct. 1, 2024 \| Image: ROK Presidential Office Editor’s note: This is the second in a multi-part series exploring South Korean policy changes that could emerge under a Democratic Party president. Part one on foreign and trade policies can be read here. Talk in South Korea about the merits of going nuclear has ramped up in recent years, particularly among conservatives, amid concerns about the U.S. commitment to Seoul’s defense. But with the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) primed to reclaim the presidency following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, Korea Proanalysis suggests that a DP-led government is unlikely to pursue nuclear weapons, even as Trump’s imminent © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01South Korea’s missile defense push raises new questions over wartime stocks 02South Korea bank hacks expose weak links beyond core financial systems 03Lee-Zelensky feud exposes South Korea’s widening Ukraine policy dilemma 04Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump 05Trump’s Korea investment victory lap masks safeguards Seoul still controls 06North Korean POW dispute tests Seoul-Kyiv trust and future Ukraine policy 07South Korea’s CPTPP push exposes the cost of turning trade gains into consensus 08AI storage boom gives South Korea battery makers an EV overcapacity lifeline

Analysis

Why a Democratic Party-led South Korea will reject nuclear weapons

Credibility deficit left in wake of Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law will force DP to prioritize alliance and stability

John LeeDecember 24, 2024

Why a Democratic Party-led South Korea will reject nuclear weapons

President Yoon Suk-yeol inspects the military during South Korea's Armed Forces Day, driving past a Hyunmoo-5 missile, Oct. 1, 2024 | Image: ROK Presidential Office

Editor’s note: This is the second in a multi-part series exploring South Korean policy changes that could emerge under a Democratic Party president. Part one on foreign and trade policies can be read here.

Talk in South Korea about the merits of going nuclear has ramped up in recent years, particularly among conservatives, amid concerns about the U.S. commitment to Seoul’s defense.

But with the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) primed to reclaim the presidency following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, Korea Proanalysis suggests that a DP-led government is unlikely to pursue nuclear weapons, even as Trump’s imminent

Why a Democratic Party-led South Korea will reject nuclear weapons

LATEST ANALYSIS

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John Lee