Jung Mong-joon Advocates for an "Asian Version of NATO" in SAIS Speech
"No Tactical Nuclear Weapons on the Korean Peninsula Despite Serious Security Threats"
"Asia Must Consider a Collective Security System"
Jung Mong-joon, Chairman of the Asan Foundation, argued that a multilateral military alliance system similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should be established in the Indo-Pacific region to respond to threats from North Korea, China, and Russia. On the 18th, Yonhap News reported that "Chairman Jung gave a speech on the 17th (local time) at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC." At the event, Jung reportedly stated, "The United States and its allies and partners must also show a resolute will to deter the military adventurism of North Korea, China, and Russia. We need an Asian version of NATO."
Chairman Jung said, "More and more experts and leaders are saying that a collective security system in Asia needs to be considered over time," adding, "It could be called the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization (IPTO)." He continued, "Within the alliance system of hub and spokes, the United States and its allies such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Thailand should strengthen cooperation between the spokes. Additionally, cooperation with important partners like India, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam should also be expanded."
He emphasized, "This is not about containment or regime change of sovereign states," and added, "It means that the sovereignty of all countries in the Indo-Pacific region must be respected so that we can live freely without coercion."
Chairman Jung pointed out that while the United States withdrew tactical nuclear weapons from the Pacific region, including South Korea, following the end of the Cold War, it still deploys about 100 tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. He said, "It does not make sense to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Europe but not on the Korean Peninsula, where the security situation is more serious," and added, "Now, we should consider redeploying some of these weapons to bases within South Korea."
Jung has long advocated for the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. In 2013, at the 'International Nuclear Policy Conference,' he stated, "In the face of a serious threat to national security, South Korea could consider withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Withdrawal is a right stipulated in the treaty."
He also commented on former U.S. President Donald Trump. Jung said, "I am pleased that President Trump expressed interest in cooperation with South Korea's shipbuilding industry," adding, "This will help maintain a stronger U.S. Navy fleet, and South Korea can contribute significantly to this joint effort."
The event was held to commemorate the establishment of the 'M J Chung Chair in Security Studies' at SAIS. Jung received his Ph.D. in International Politics from SAIS in 1993 and recently donated $7.5 million (approximately 10.9 billion KRW) to SAIS on the 12th to support research on security issues on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's nuclear problem, and to nurture young scholars. SAIS plans to use this fund to establish and operate the 'M J Chung Chair in Security Studies,' focusing on international security issues such as the Korean Peninsula, and to foster emerging scholars.
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