US State Department: "No Plans to Redeploy Tactical Nukes on the Korean Peninsula"

Amid discussions in the United States about the need to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. State Department has drawn a line by stating that there are no such plans.

Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the State Department, said during a briefing on the 30th (local time) that when asked about Russia's position that it might take additional measures in terms of nuclear deterrence if the U.S. deploys missiles in the Asia-Pacific region, "The United States does not currently consider it essential to redeploy nuclear weapons to the Indo-Pacific region."

Patel also emphasized that it should not be forgotten that Russia is the party threatening the use and deployment of nuclear weapons. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview with RIA Novosti that if the U.S. deploys ground-based intermediate- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, Russia might also take additional measures in terms of nuclear deterrence.

Recently, there have been calls within the U.S. for the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, revealed a plan the day before to increase the defense budget by $55 billion (approximately 75 trillion won) to strengthen U.S. defense capabilities, proposing the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula and sharing nuclear weapons with South Korea, similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The Biden administration opposes South Korea’s independent nuclear armament or the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea, under the policy of responding to North Korea’s nuclear threat by strengthening extended deterrence (nuclear umbrella). After then-President Roh Tae-woo declared the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in 1991, all tactical nuclear weapons held by the U.S. Forces Korea were withdrawn from the peninsula.