Stronger Stance Beyond Previous NATO-Style Nuclear Sharing
Review of NPT Article 10 Needed in Case of a Bad Deal
"No Ruling or Opposition Parties in Matters of Life-and-Death Security"
Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min argued that if U.S. President Donald Trump recognizes North Korea as a nuclear power, the U.S. should demand South Korea’s independent nuclear armament and ensure its implementation. Yoo, who had previously advocated for NATO-style nuclear sharing, issued a tougher stance warning of possible changes in the security environment on the Korean Peninsula.
On the 22nd, Yoo analyzed the significance of President Trump referring to North Korea as a nuclear power through social media (SNS).
He introduced remarks related to North Korea’s nuclear issue not only from President Trump but also from Secretary of State nominee Mark Rubio and Deputy Secretary of Defense nominee Elbridge Colby, pointing out, "They are likely to have different views on the U.S. Forces Korea and the South Korea-U.S. alliance compared to past U.S. administrations."
He then warned of the possibility that the security situation on the Korean Peninsula could deteriorate to the worst case during negotiations between President Trump and Chairman Kim. Yoo said, "If the U.S. recognizes North Korea’s nuclear power status and engages in negotiations on nuclear freeze and nuclear and long-range missile arms reduction, coupled with lifting sanctions on North Korea, reducing or withdrawing U.S. Forces Korea, establishing North Korea-U.S. diplomatic relations, and signing an armistice agreement, and if complete denuclearization of North Korea becomes not the 'entrance' but the 'exit,' such a situation would bring a terrible catastrophe to our security."
He added that if it leads to a 'bad deal,' South Korea must pursue 'independent nuclear armament.' Yoo stated, "Starting with the revision of the Korea-U.S. Atomic Energy Agreement, the Republic of Korea must become a 'nuclear power,'" and "We must declare to the international community, led by the U.S., that South Korea is the country where the exception clause of Article 10 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is most justly applied." Article 10 of the NPT allows withdrawal from the treaty in the event of a sovereign emergency.
Furthermore, he said, "During the transitional period toward independent nuclear armament, we must demand NATO-style nuclear sharing or the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons by U.S. Forces Korea," adding, "Since President Trump views alliances as transactions, if he demands a price, we must pay it to eliminate fatal security vulnerabilities."
He also called for an extraordinary political response to changes in the security environment. He said, "In matters of life-and-death security, there can be no difference between the ruling and opposition parties, or between progressives and conservatives," and "The Democratic Party and leader Lee Jae-myung must clearly state their position on solutions to the security crisis that the Trump-Kim deal may bring."
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