While visiting the U.S., Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo mentioned Trump's remarks on social media, stating, "The only way left is to realize the policy of nuclear balance between the two Koreas to escape the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons," and supported nuclear armament, saying, "There is no peace without a balance of power."
Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, who is visiting the U.S. to attend President Trump's inauguration, said on her social media on the 22nd, "Now that the U.S. is recognizing North Korea as a de facto nuclear state, our choice is clear," and added, "It is now time for South Korea's own nuclear armament strategy."
Listening to these claims, which are worse than those of ordinary people, has become tiresome.
They make statements without considering the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty we have joined or the role of U.S. forces in Korea. Such shallow, popularity-seeking remarks are meaningless.
Even Yoon Suk-yeol, during his presidential candidacy, frequently talked about nuclear issues but did nothing in reality.
The two main justifications for pressuring North Korea are dictatorship and nuclear development.
In this situation, if we arm ourselves with nuclear weapons, diplomatic issues arise due to the treaty. Moreover, the increased risk from nuclear armament negatively impacts our economy. The possibility of various trade sanctions cannot be ignored either.
Furthermore, if U.S. forces withdraw from Korea due to our nuclear possession, we lose the strongest deterrent against North Korean provocations. Their deterrence is not just a superficial one from nuclear possession but a substantial one, and losing it could pose a serious threat to national security.
Without addressing these issues, merely advocating for nuclear possession to please supporters is nothing more than an admission of one's lack of political and diplomatic capability.