By Kim Hyo-jin
Lawmakers urged the government to consider requesting the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea, Wednesday, as a countermeasure against North Korea's nuclear provocations.
Ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers renewed their calls for nuclear armament during an interpellation session, saying it would be an "effective measure" to defend the country from the North's accelerating nuclear and missile threats.
They claimed redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons can be a feasible option to counter North Korea in a short period of time.
Some opposition lawmakers agreed, saying it is time for the government to overhaul existing measures against North Korea's nuclear program.
"It is a matter of South Korea's survival. So, even if the U.S. is reluctant about the idea, we should keep bringing the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons to the negotiating table," said Saenuri Party lawmaker Lee Cheol-woo, the chairman of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee.
"We should not remain hesitant in seeking all possible defensive measures in fear of international sanctions or possible discord with China. A chance has come to resolve North Korea's nuclear issue once and for all."
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the Saenuri Party proposed setting the deadline for placing tactical nuclear weapons here in consultation with the U.S.
"We might be able to gain consent on the issue from the U.S. if an agreed-upon condition is met. A possible condition can be an additional nuclear test or intercontinental ballistic missile launch by North Korea," Yoon said.
He added that the government could also seek to have the U.S. deploy its bombers or nuclear-powered submarines.
Kim Jin-pyo, a four-term lawmaker of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), was in accord, saying South Korea needs to respond to the North's advanced nuclear capability with a "balance of terror."
"The situation has changed. If North Korea's claim that it has standardized a nuclear warhead is true, that means we have a game changer now. We should seek all possible means to better defend ourselves from the North," he said.
"The redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons can be a certain tit-for-tat measure."
Kim argued that a joint Seoul-Pyongyang declaration in 1991, which was signed to make the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, has been meaningless since North Korea broke the pledge.
However, ministers who appeared at the interpellation session all denied any possible move for nuclear armament, reconfirming the government's stance of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"There is no change in the government's stance that supports denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We will abide by international obligations for nuclear non-proliferation while seeking stringent sanctions against North Korea with the international community," said Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.
Following North Korea's launch of submarine-launched ballistic missiles as well as its fifth nuclear test, some hawkish lawmakers started calling for the nation's nuclear armament including the deployment of the tactical nuclear weapons.
The government has responded negatively, saying the nation's nuclear armament constitutes a direct violation of the Nonproliferation Treaty, which could lead to international sanctions and jeopardize the South Korea-U.S. Defense Treaty.
South Korea renounced its move to develop its own nuclear weapons in the 1970s and joined the Nonproliferation Treaty in 1975. The U.S. withdrew all tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea following the joint Seoul-Pyongyang declaration in 1991.
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| Lawmakers receive explanations about North Korea's missile capability during an interpellation session at the National Assembly, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
Ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers renewed their calls for nuclear armament during an interpellation session, saying it would be an "effective measure" to defend the country from the North's accelerating nuclear and missile threats.
They claimed redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons can be a feasible option to counter North Korea in a short period of time.
Some opposition lawmakers agreed, saying it is time for the government to overhaul existing measures against North Korea's nuclear program.
"It is a matter of South Korea's survival. So, even if the U.S. is reluctant about the idea, we should keep bringing the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons to the negotiating table," said Saenuri Party lawmaker Lee Cheol-woo, the chairman of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee.
"We should not remain hesitant in seeking all possible defensive measures in fear of international sanctions or possible discord with China. A chance has come to resolve North Korea's nuclear issue once and for all."
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the Saenuri Party proposed setting the deadline for placing tactical nuclear weapons here in consultation with the U.S.
"We might be able to gain consent on the issue from the U.S. if an agreed-upon condition is met. A possible condition can be an additional nuclear test or intercontinental ballistic missile launch by North Korea," Yoon said.
He added that the government could also seek to have the U.S. deploy its bombers or nuclear-powered submarines.
Kim Jin-pyo, a four-term lawmaker of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), was in accord, saying South Korea needs to respond to the North's advanced nuclear capability with a "balance of terror."
"The situation has changed. If North Korea's claim that it has standardized a nuclear warhead is true, that means we have a game changer now. We should seek all possible means to better defend ourselves from the North," he said.
"The redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons can be a certain tit-for-tat measure."
Kim argued that a joint Seoul-Pyongyang declaration in 1991, which was signed to make the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, has been meaningless since North Korea broke the pledge.
However, ministers who appeared at the interpellation session all denied any possible move for nuclear armament, reconfirming the government's stance of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"There is no change in the government's stance that supports denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We will abide by international obligations for nuclear non-proliferation while seeking stringent sanctions against North Korea with the international community," said Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.
Following North Korea's launch of submarine-launched ballistic missiles as well as its fifth nuclear test, some hawkish lawmakers started calling for the nation's nuclear armament including the deployment of the tactical nuclear weapons.
The government has responded negatively, saying the nation's nuclear armament constitutes a direct violation of the Nonproliferation Treaty, which could lead to international sanctions and jeopardize the South Korea-U.S. Defense Treaty.
South Korea renounced its move to develop its own nuclear weapons in the 1970s and joined the Nonproliferation Treaty in 1975. The U.S. withdrew all tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea following the joint Seoul-Pyongyang declaration in 1991.
