Korea-US Security Cooperation Strategy Forum Held to Secure Nuclear Potential
North Korea's Nuclear Submarine Disclosure: "A Critical Issue Affecting the Security Landscape of the Korean Peninsula"
Oh Sehoon: "We Must Be Able to Enrich Uranium at the NPT Level"
The People Power Party has reignited efforts to secure nuclear capabilities following North Korea's disclosure of its nuclear-powered submarine construction. The rationale is that securing nuclear potential is necessary to counter North Korea's asymmetric military strengthening and the United States' prioritization policy. Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul and considered one of the leading presidential hopefuls within the ruling party, also proposed a "good deal" of "giving what we must and receiving what we should" in security negotiations with the Trump administration, which pressured allied countries to increase defense spending, including uranium enrichment.
The Mugunghwa Forum in the National Assembly, led by People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won, held a "Korea-US Security Cooperation Strategy Forum for Securing Nuclear Potential" on the morning of the 11th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Lawmaker Yoo explained the purpose of the forum, stating, "National security is a value that cannot be compromised for anything. I have argued that securing nuclear potential is a realistic measure for national security." Regarding North Korea's first public disclosure of its nuclear-powered submarine construction on the 8th, he pointed out that "it is a significant matter that greatly affects the security landscape of the Korean Peninsula."
Mayor Oh, who has emphasized nuclear potential, also argued in his keynote speech at the forum that "matters related to core national security capabilities cannot be compromised, and practical, transactional negotiations are needed for other issues such as US investments, tariffs, and defense costs." He insisted that South Korea should obtain uranium enrichment rights at the level of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He said, "Under the NPT, we have the right to peacefully enrich uranium, but due to US sanctions, we cannot even do that. This is unfair. We should have nuclear potential at the level of Japan, including the ability to enrich uranium below 20%."
In particular, he claimed that South Korea's advantages?being ranked in the world's top 10 economies, having intellectual advantages, and possessing Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology?can be leveraged in negotiations with President Trump. Mayor Oh emphasized, "Considering President Trump's transactional leadership, we have room to negotiate confidently. If we give what we must and receive what we should, we become equal, and for that, self-reliance must be our policy vision." However, he added, "The best option is for us to develop our own nuclear weapons and to abolish them if North Korea denuclearizes, which would be the best negotiation strategy." He continued, "Of course, there are many opposing arguments, such as Japan not remaining passive if we develop nuclear weapons, but can we not even make such claims? The fact that a prominent politician makes such claims itself could be an opportunity for the US, China, and North Korea to change their mindset."
Since last year, claims for nuclear armament and securing nuclear potential have emerged mainly within the ruling party, prompting the US to gather opinions and monitor trends. It is reported that the US Department of Energy (DOE) has conveyed to the South Korean government that it is considering classifying South Korea as a "Sensitive Country," alongside China, Russia, Syria, and North Korea. A Sensitive Country is defined as a nation requiring special consideration for policy reasons, and classification as such is said to impose restrictions on cooperation with the DOE. Concerns have also been raised that cooperation between South Korea and the US in advanced technology fields such as nuclear power and artificial intelligence (AI) may be limited.
In response to a reporter's comment that "securing South Korea's nuclear potential is expected to face opposition not only from the US but also from major countries," Mayor Oh rebutted, "I do not think the international community has reason to oppose changes to the extent of securing nuclear potential. We are already militarily confronting North Korea, which possesses nuclear missiles, so for us to secure rights such as uranium enrichment at the level of neighboring Japan, excessive concern or opposition from the international community is a matter of our sovereignty."
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