South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has stated that if tensions with North Korea escalate, his country may use nuclear weapons.
Yoon said during a government meeting on Wednesday that if tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang remained high, South Korea might arm itself with tactical nuclear weapons or build its own arsenal, just days after the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un, said his country would develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile.
“If the [North Korean nuclear] problem becomes more serious, the Republic of Korea may deploy tactical nuclear weapons or come to possess its own nuclear weapons,” Yoon said.
“If that happens, it won’t take long, and with our science and technology, we could have [nuclear weapons] sooner as time passes,” the South Korean president added.
North Korea, which has been sanctioned for years by the US and the UN Security Council for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, fired an unprecedented number of missiles in 2022, including its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile yet.
Following disarmament talks with Russia and North Korea in 1991, the United States withdrew its nuclear forces from South Korea.
Seoul, concerned by the North’s numerous launch tests, is now attempting to strengthen its military alliance with the US and deepen collaboration with Japan.
Yoon said on Tuesday that the allies were talking about undertaking new joint military exercises, including tabletop and computer simulations, as well as exercises involving “delivery means for nuclear weapons.”
US and South Korean authorities have warned that the North may be prepared to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017.
Kim reportedly advocated for an “exponential” boost in the country’s nuclear arsenal. He emphasized the importance of continuing the country’s nuclear and missile development programs, citing them as a deterrent instrument to safeguard the country against its enemies.
Pyongyang formalized the authority to use nuclear weapons in state legislation in September of last year.
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