◀ anchor ▶
As the recent North Korean threat rises, harsh claims such as tactical nuclear deployment and nuclear weapons are pouring out of the passport.
Although the presidential office has said that it respects the NPT, that is, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, there are various interpretations regarding President Yoon’s comments that seem to leave room for the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
Reporter Lee Jung-eun covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
When the fact that North Korea had conducted tactical nuclear exercises against South Korea became public, the ruling party argued that nuclear weapons should be used against nuclear weapons.
[김기현/ 국민의힘 의원(오늘 아침, BBS 전영신의 아침저널)]
“I think ultimately we have to steer towards nuclear weapons.”
Jeong Jin-seok, chairman of the People’s Power Hypertrophy, further promised a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. [한반도비핵화선언]also insists on its removal.
[정진석/ 국민의힘 비대위원장]
“Didn’t North Korea develop nuclear weapons, upgrade nuclear weapons, and complete nuclear weapons, on the contrary, so there is no need to stick to that statement anymore?”
It seems that the reason the hard line theory is being talked about every day is because President Yoon Seok-yeol’s comments yesterday left a strange room.
Unlike in the past, who drew the line clearly that he respects the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the NPT system and does not consider tactical nuclear relocation, President Yun did not do that yesterday.
[윤석열 대통령/ 어제 출근길]
(There are opinions about whether we should relocate the tactical nukes or not, what do you think?) We are listening carefully to Joya’s different opinions in Korea and the United States.
With tough additions from women and men, some have questioned whether the government is considering a ‘tactical nuclear weapons relocation’.
Kim Seong-han, head of the National Security Bureau, said in a principled position, “We will strengthen our deterrence against North Korea with the combined overwhelming defense posture of the ROK and the United States.”
At the same time, the president’s office did not deny that tactical nuclear relocation is one of many options, saying that ‘we are listening to different opinions under the realization that it is a serious situation’.
However, in order to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons, we may find ourselves in a contradictory situation where we have to withdraw from the NPT and deny ourselves the premise of ‘denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula’ .
It is also not easy to obtain the consent of the United States to maintain a non-proliferation regime.
It means that it is not a card that can be realized immediately, but it is seen that the passport will not hinder the discussion itself first, because it can aim for the effect of mobilizing supporters for security issues.
In the midst of this, the White House National Security Council coordinator, John Kirby, refused to comment directly on the issue of tactical nuclear deployment, saying that South Korea would leave South Korea’s position clear.
This is Lee Jung-eun from MBC News.
Video comment: Kim Hee-gun
Video editing: Yoon Chi-young
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