Amid fears of North Korea's nuclear-weapon efforts, an assortment of South Korean academics and former military officials recently urged the United States to consider once again fielding tactical nuclear weapons in their nation, United Press International reported (see GSN, Oct. 21).
The group also appealed to Washington to postpone past 2012 the scheduled transfer to Seoul of wartime operational command of South Korean forces.
Last June, U.S. President Barack Obama declared in writing that the United States would ensure its nuclear umbrella was "wide enough to protect" South Korea.
However, that commitment is "fragile," South Korean analyst Cheon Seong-whun said during a recent forum in Seoul. He characterized the U.S. nuclear umbrella for Japan as a "negative security assurance" that has produced "a question of credibility."
Additionally, with Pyongyang's effort to create a long-range nuclear missile capable of striking the continental United States, Washington runs the chance of opening the United States to attack if it includes South Korea in its nuclear umbrella, Cheon said.
"There is doubt that the United States could protect Seoul at the risk of nuclear attacks on New York or Los Angeles," Cheon said. "The United States should consider redeploying tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea to effectively deter North Korea's nuclear threats."
Tactical nuclear weapons are generally understood to be those with limited ranges, such as land-based missiles that can fly up to 300 miles or sea- and air-based weapons with a range of approximately 360 miles.
Under a 1992 agreement between Pyongyang and Seoul, the United States removed its tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea.
"The United States could link the plan of nuclear weapons deployment to the North's nuclear arsenal program," Cheon said. "The United States can tell the North to dismantle its nuclear weapons by 2012 or Washington would deploy a nuclear arsenal again in the South."
Seoul could weigh hosting nuclear weapons after it receives wartime command of its troops, said academic Kim Yol-su.
Ten tactical nuclear missiles in South Korea would counteract any North Korean nuclear strike danger, said a South Korean military official (Lee Jong-heon, United Press International, Oct. 21).
During his visit in Seoul today, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates reaffirmed the United States' promise to protect South Korea, Agence France-Presse reported.
"North Korea continues to pose a threat to South Korea, to the region and to others," Gates said.
"And as such, I want to reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the United States to the alliance and to the defense of the Republic of Korea (South Korea)," he said. "The United States will continue to provide extended deterrence, using the full range of military capabilities -- including the nuclear umbrella -- to ensure ROK security" (Dan De Luce, Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Oct. 22).