{"id":2196359,"date":"2022-05-26T14:00:44","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T05:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/pro\/?p=2196359"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:12:21","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:12:21","slug":"tactical-nuclear-weapons-wont-fix-south-koreas-security-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/05\/tactical-nuclear-weapons-wont-fix-south-koreas-security-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Tactical nuclear weapons won\u2019t fix South Korea\u2019s security concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"
North Korea\u2019s spate of missile tests since the start of the year and the increasing likelihood that Pyongyang will conduct a seventh nuclear test have given added impetus to South Korea\u2019s nuclear debate. Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine and associated nuclear threats against the U.S. have also compounded concerns among South Korean policymakers about the country\u2019s vulnerability to nuclear coercion by Kim Jong Un.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In response to these threats, a <\/span>consistent majority<\/span><\/a> of the South Korean public favors acquiring nuclear weapons. It is now <\/span>commonplace<\/span><\/a> to hear calls from South Korean politicians, experts and commentators for U.S. deployment of low-yield \u201ctactical\u201d nuclear weapons (TNW) or a \u201csharing\u201d arrangement in which South Korean aircraft and pilots would be equipped to deliver U.S. nuclear weapons during a conflict.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Proponents of nuclear sharing or deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in South Korea, such as retired <\/span>Lieutenant General Chun In-bum<\/span><\/a>, argue they would establish symmetry of capability and a balance of terror with North Korea that would eventually lead both sides to accept mutual restraint.<\/span><\/p>\n But given that North Korea developed nuclear weapons to balance growing economic and military power asymmetries with South Korea, a nuclear deployment in the South is likely to add fuel to arms racing rather than temper it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n