Won Hee-ryong: "Hong Jun-pyo's Independent Nuclear Development is a Direct Train to Venezuela"

Hong Jun-pyo "Are you trying to protect the country with such a weak mindset?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former Jeju Governor and People Power Party presidential candidate Won Hee-ryong strongly criticized Representative Hong Joon-pyo's 'NATO-style nuclear sharing' pledge. Former Governor Won pointed out that Hong's nuclear policy could potentially trigger international sanctions and risk normalizing North Korea's nuclear status.

On the 28th, during the 4th People Power Party presidential primary debate broadcast on MBC's '100-Minute Debate,' Former Governor Won raised concerns about Hong's pledge. He said, "If the U.S. authorities say there is a risk of breaking global non-proliferation and that denuclearization of North Korea is effectively abandoned, and therefore refuse tactical nuclear deployment or nuclear sharing, will you then pursue nuclear armament?"

In response to Won's question, Representative Hong said, "I cannot make assumptions," but added, "In the case of Germany's Schmidt, nuclear sharing was done in that way."

When Former Governor Won asked again, "Will you pursue nuclear development and independent nuclear armament or not?" Hong replied, "It is difficult to say definitively 'yes' or 'no' right now. I intend to follow Schmidt's approach."

Earlier, on the 23rd during the 2nd debate, Representative Hong stated, "In the past, when German Chancellor Schmidt requested the U.S. to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union deployed nuclear missiles in the Eastern Bloc, the U.S. refused. Then Chancellor Schmidt said that Germany would develop nuclear weapons like France and the U.K. Subsequently, NATO's five countries redeployed tactical nuclear weapons and shared nuclear launch authority. I advocate for this NATO-style nuclear sharing." Essentially, he aims to realize U.S. nuclear sharing by using South Korea's independent nuclear development possibility as a bargaining chip.

Regarding this, Former Governor Won said, "If independent nuclear armament is pursued, South Korea would immediately be subject to nuclear inspections," adding, "Uranium imports would be banned, nuclear power plants would have to shut down once the stockpiled uranium runs out, and crude oil imports could also be prohibited. The moment nuclear armament is pursued as a direct train to Venezuela, as Representative Hong mentioned, that would become a reality."

In response, Representative Hong said, "How can someone so weak-willed become president?"

Former Governor Won also criticized Hong's mention of nuclear balance with North Korea.

Won asked, "Nuclear balance means balancing the nuclear weapons North Korea has with those South Korea has. Does that mean normalizing North Korea's nuclear weapons?" Hong countered, "Just because we don't recognize North Korea's nuclear weapons doesn't mean they don't exist."

Won responded, "Negotiating to make North Korea give up developing nuclear weapons is different from normalizing and recognizing them as a nuclear state and entering nuclear disarmament talks. North Korea keeps demanding, 'We are a nuclear state; let's go to nuclear disarmament talks,' and 'Only the U.S. has nuclear weapons, so only the U.S. will negotiate,' excluding South Korea. This is exactly the same logic as North Korea's," he pointed out. He further warned that if South Korea achieves a fearful nuclear balance with North Korea, it could prompt Japan to develop nuclear weapons. He said, "Recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state and bringing in U.S. tactical and strategic nuclear weapons to balance the nuclear power denies the global non-proliferation regime led by the U.S. and would cause turmoil in the ROK-U.S. alliance," adding, "I want to emphasize that the international system is based on power, balance, and alternatives."

Representative Hong criticized, "Do you intend to protect the country as president with such a weak mindset?"

Meanwhile, Former Governor Won and Representative Hong also disputed the details of the NATO-style nuclear sharing policy. Won pointed out, "In NATO-style nuclear sharing, the launch authority belongs to the U.S. president." When Hong countered, "Sharing means both parties have it," Won responded, "NATO's nuclear sharing means having veto power, but the launch authority of U.S. nuclear weapons is never transferred to any country other than the U.S. president."