The mayor of Seoul urges South Korea to use nuclear weapons against threats from North Korea – #mayor #Seoul #urges #South #Korea #nuclear #weapons #threats #North #Korea
SEOUL, March 13 (Reuters) – South Korea must develop nuclear weapons to bolster its defense against North Korea, even risking international repercussions, the capital’s mayor said, arguing the country cannot be bound by its denuclearization goal. .
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon added new fuel to the growing debate over how South Korea should arm itself as North Korea races to improve its ability to strike the South with tactical nuclear weapons.
“North Korea has almost succeeded in miniaturizing and lightening its tactical nuclear weapons and has secured at least a dozen warheads,” Oh said. “We have come to a point where it is difficult to convince people that we should refrain from developing nuclear weapons and stick to denuclearization.”
He previously raised the issue, saying in February that the South should keep the nuclear option available. But his new interpretations are still the most powerful.
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oh President An influential member of Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative People’s Power Party, he is one of the most high-profile officials to actively defend South Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
He is seen as a presidential candidate in 2027. As mayor, he oversees Seoul’s annual civil defense drills and an integrated security mechanism aimed at protecting the metropolitan area, home to nearly half of the country’s 51 million people.
Advances in North Korea’s military and USAAmid doubts about its commitment or ability to protect the South, a growing number of senior South Korean officials have raised the possibility of developing nuclear weapons or redeploying tactical nuclear bombs and missiles removed from America. The Korean Peninsula in the 1990s.
As a candidate, Yoon USAoption of repositioning offer did, but since then his administration has remained committed to denuclearization and USA said that he would strengthen the traditional defense combined with
However, polls show unprecedented levels of public support in South Korea for the once unthinkable idea of a nuclear arsenal.
In a March 1 poll released by Data Research, more than 70% of South Koreans supported developing nuclear weapons, while 27% opposed; 59% said that if war broke out on the peninsula, North Korea would likely use nuclear weapons.
oh said Ukraine crisis reinforced his belief that denuclearization had lost its appeal and that nuclear weapons would be the most effective deterrent against the North.
“Russia of Ukraine weather it freely disrupts its space, launching bombers and missiles… but Ukraine for being psychologically weak in the face of a nuclear state Russia is aggressively attacking its territory,” Oh said.
He is the North of South Korea’s nuclear program to countries like China military saying that he will send a message to curb his rise, he rejected his opponents who warned of punishments, including sanctions, from other countries.
“There may be some initial resistance from the international community, but I believe it will eventually gain more support,” he said.
A former senior U.S. official said the Yoon administration’s increased rhetoric stems from its desire to pressure the United States to give South Korea more say in its nuclear planning.
Yoon said the expanded U.S. deterrence “falls short of convincing” the South Koreans, and Washington has agreed to more information sharing and table-to-table exercises to ensure greater allied cooperation.
Lee Sang-hyun, president of South Korea’s Sejong Institute, said in a report this month that Yoon was not seriously considering the nuclear program and that the return of American weapons was unlikely.
“However, the Yoon government’s stance on nuclear non-proliferation has shown signs of small but significant change in recent months,” he wrote. “If North Korea’s nuclear threat becomes more visible and South Korea pursues its nuclear development path, it could start a nuclear domino effect in Asia. news will give”.
Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Added by Josh Smith report. Edited by Gerry Doyle
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2023-03-13 07:28:45
Source – reuters
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