ASSESSMENTS

South Korea Broaches Hosting U.S. Nuclear Weapons

Nov 22, 2010 | 23:12 GMT

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Summary

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae Young said Nov. 22 that Seoul may consider hosting U.S. tactical nuclear weapons, which had been withdrawn from the country at the end of the Cold War. Though the Pentagon had denied it has any plans to deploy the weapons and even the South Korean Defense Ministry has played down the minister's comment, his statement highlights Seoul's growing concern about North Korea and its nuclear program, particularly in light of the recently disclosed uranium enrichment facility. However, even if South Korea does ask for the redeployment of U.S. nuclear weapons to the peninsula, it is anything but clear that the United States will oblige the request. Editor's Note: U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg (1989-1993) contacted STRATFOR about discussions between South Korea and the U.S. government on the removal of nuclear weapons from the country in 1990, indicating that the withdrawal was completed with the prior knowledge and support of the Korean government. The analysis below, which said the American withdrawal of nuclear arms surprised the Koreans, has been corrected to reflect the ambassador's letter.

South Korea's defense minister suggested that Seoul may consider asking the United States to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons in the country to deal with the North Korean threat. ...

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