John Bolton, who served as national security adviser at the White House during the presidency of former US President Donald Trump, argued for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons by the US military, pointing out that the “Washington Declaration” announced by Presidents Seok-Yeol Yoon and President Joe Biden was insufficient in responding to the North Korean nuclear threat.
Former aide Bolton said in an article titled “Biden’s lukewarm nuclear deterrence plan” on the US political media “The Hill” on the 2nd (local time), “President Yoon’s top priority at the recent Korea-US summit is to address the growing North Korean nuclear threat. There was no doubt that, but the Washington Declaration unfortunately fell far short of what was needed.”
“Prudent action in that declaration will not slow North Korea’s efforts to reunify the Korean Peninsula, and tensions in Northeast Asia will almost certainly continue to rise,” he added.
The Washington Declaration, adopted by President Yoon during his state visit to the United States, is a Korean-style extended deterrence bolstering plan that focuses on establishing the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a consultative body of deputy ministers.
“South Korean public opinion has increasingly supported an independent nuclear program, reflecting growing fears that extended US nuclear deterrence can no longer be trusted in the face of North Korea or China,” Bolton said. Biden’s response to the growing nuclear and ballistic missile threat will do little to allay South Korea’s concerns.”
Former aide Bolton said, “The most obvious new promise from the United States to counter North Korea’s belligerence is that, for the first time in 40 years, US strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs) will occasionally resume port calls in South Korea.” He pointed out that there would be regular visits by motherships and bombers.”
He added that since North Korea is an unfamiliar leadership with mysterious thoughts, sometimes taking a strong stance can work against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, if not against Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Former aide Bolton noted that while both Kim and Xi should have no doubt that the United States has enormous nuclear assets, “ironically, like the Korean people, they very much underestimate the American leadership today.”
“China and North and South Korea recognize that the United States lacks the resolve and will to act decisively when its national interests are threatened,” he said. He pointed out that the rhetoric (rhetoric) will only be seen as words (to China and North and South Korea).”
Former aide Bolton then proposed redeploying US tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula indefinitely.
“These weapons will remain under sole U.S. control, and are useful in providing immediate support to the defense of deployed U.S. forces and fellow Koreans,” he said. It will be more than that, and it is a more tangible measure than calling a submarine.”
“The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons will put weight on the NCG, which is in charge of strengthening extended deterrence, discussing nuclear plans, and managing the North Korean proliferation threat,” he said. How is it different?” he asked.
“While the issue of an independent South Korean nuclear capability is politically and militarily separate from the redeployment of US tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, the redeployment of nuclear weapons nevertheless gives the two countries time to fully evaluate what it means for South Korea to become a nuclear weapons state,” Bolton said. will give,” he said.
“The deployment of US nuclear assets to the Korean Peninsula does not make a separate program in South Korea impossible or inevitable,” he added.
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.