Successive proposals such as Heritage Foundation-CSIS
The Heritage Foundation, Strategy, argue that the United States should establish a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-type “Nuclear Planning Group (NPG)” in Asia to respond to South Korea’s request for its own nuclear development and to increase confidence in its commitment to extended nuclear deterrence. It was raised one after another by major think tanks such as the Center for International Studies (CSIS). Even if an agreement is reached on strengthening extended deterrence, including the expansion of deployment of strategic assets, at the Korea-US summit expected in April, as trust in the US nuclear umbrella is expected to decline due to the escalating nuclear threat from North Korea, China and Russia, NATO-style nuclear sharing with South Korea, Japan and Australia is being pursued. the intention is to do
Bruce Klingner, a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, said in a report on the 23rd (local time), “The need to strengthen US extended deterrence in Asia,” saying, “Discussions on self-development of nuclear weapons, which have been pushed aside for a long time, are being discussed openly, including by President Seok-yeol Yoon. there is. This is because various concerns, such as the deteriorating regional security environment and doubts about the US security pledge, hit like a ‘perfect storm’.”
Regarding the background of the rise of the theory of nuclear armament in South Korea, Klingner said, “In Korea, people questioned why they were treated discriminately against US allies in Europe and why India did not receive (sanctions) even though it developed nuclear weapons.” raise,” he said. He also noted that “former and current officials in South Korea are expressing concern that as a result of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, an administration may emerge that regards the military alliance as a transactional relationship and threatens again to withdraw or reduce U.S. forces in Korea.” It is an analysis targeting former President Donald Trump, who took out a card to reduce USFK due to the issue of cost sharing.
Accordingly, he said, “The United States needs to become more flexible to prevent South Korea’s radical policy (development of its own nuclear weapons).” We need to create a nuclear planning group,” he stressed. “The United States should also involve Japan and Australia in resolving common threats to the Indo-Pacific region. It is desirable to first establish a nuclear planning group with South Korea and then form a four-country cooperative body.”
Specifically, the plan to deploy next-generation interceptor missiles (NGI) capable of intercepting North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) will be increased from the current 20 to 64, and sea-launched nuclear cruise missiles (SLCM-N) capable of carrying nuclear weapons will also be deployed in Asia. said I had to
In the US political world, voices arguing for the creation of a NATO-style nuclear group in Asia are being raised bipartisanly. The CSIS Korean Peninsula Committee, also considered a conservative think tank, recommended the creation of a NATO-style nuclear planning group in a report last month on ‘Recommendations on North Korea Policy and Extended Deterrence’. He also stressed the need to prepare for the groundwork for the possibility of redeployment of low-potency nuclear weapons by the United States. Sumi Terry, director of Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center, a pro-Democratic think tank, also insisted that “all options, including NATO-style nuclear sharing and potential redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons, should be reviewed.”
This is related to the growing nuclear arms race around the world due to the escalating North Korean nuclear threat, Russia’s cessation of participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), and China’s rise to a military powerhouse. In this situation, there are considerable concerns that if the weakening of trust in extended deterrence is left unchecked, it could lead to a crack in the alliance and arouse Asian countries’ desire to possess nuclear weapons like a domino.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.