[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, called the claims for 'tactical nuclear redeployment' raised mainly by the ruling party "irresponsible remarks not worth a second thought" during a meeting with Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea. In response, ruling party leadership candidates have consecutively criticized him.
Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min criticized through his social network service (SNS) on the 2nd, saying, "It is Lee himself who is making 'irresponsible remarks not worth a second thought."
He said, "Lee must answer," and asked, "How will you stop North Korea's nuclear missiles when they attack Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju, rather than the sea northwest of Ulleungdo?"
He added, "South Korea has long been held hostage by North Korea's nuclear missile threats," emphasizing, "Conventional weapons alone cannot stop North Korea's nuclear weapons. We must secure a game changer by our own strength."
The game changer mentioned by former lawmaker Yoo is interpreted as tactical nuclear redeployment. Yoo also raised his voice on SNS on the 5th of last month, saying, "We must start negotiations on nuclear sharing and tactical nuclear redeployment with U.S. President Biden."
Another ruling party leadership candidate, Cho Kyung-tae, a member of the People Power Party, also criticized Lee through SNS on the same day, proposing a formal public debate with Lee on South Korea's nuclear armament, including tactical nuclear redeployment.
Cho said, "Lee called the claims for tactical nuclear deployment 'irresponsible remarks not worth a second thought' during his meeting with the U.S. ambassador, but I consider his words to be worthless and irresponsible." Earlier, Cho mentioned the necessity of tactical nuclear redeployment and pledged to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in his constituency, Saha District, Busan.
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