Criticism of Oh Se-hoon's Claim on Securing Nuclear Potential via Social Media
"Where Would We Import Uranium? Objections from the US and Others"
"US Considering Sensitive Country Designation, Aftermath of Irresponsible Nuclear Armament Rhetoric"
Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's claim on the 11th about 'securing nuclear potential.' He argued that nuclear weapons testing is out of the question, it is economically unfeasible, and it could even jeopardize the South Korea-US alliance.
On the same day, Yoon raised concerns about Mayor Oh's remarks on nuclear potential through social media (SNS). He said, "There are more than enough reasons why the claim for independent nuclear armament is absurd and dangerous," and added, "He has gone too far."
He listed nuclear weapons reprocessing facilities and nuclear weapons test sites, questioning, "Where exactly would we import uranium, the raw material for nuclear weapons?" He also mentioned sanctions under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), stating, "The economic benefit gained compared to the input is zero."
He also expressed doubt about whether the United States would tolerate South Korea's nuclear armament. He pointed out, "The US will never tolerate our nuclear armament," adding, "It would be the same even if not Trump but Trump's grandfather came." Additionally, he warned that it could lead to an arms race and effectively condone North Korea's nuclear weapons."
Yoon further criticized, "It is said that the US government is considering designating South Korea as a 'sensitive country,'" calling it "the aftermath of irresponsible nuclear armament rhetoric incited by the People Power Party, President Yoon Seok-yeol, and some reckless political leaders."
Earlier, Mayor Oh, in a keynote speech at the 'Korea-US Security Cooperation Strategy Forum for Securing Nuclear Potential' held by the National Assembly Mugunghwa Forum, stated, "We cannot compromise on core national security capabilities, and for other matters such as US investments, tariffs, and defense costs, practical and transactional negotiations are necessary." He urged, "We need to acquire uranium enrichment authority at the level of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," and emphasized, "We should have nuclear potential at the level of Japan, including the obvious ability to enrich uranium below 20%."
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