South Korea Considers Nuclear Weapons Amid US Alliance Uncertainty
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul suggested that developing nuclear weapons could be a “plan B,” prompted by uncertainty surrounding the new Trump administration’s commitment to defending South Korea against North Korea. This statement, while labeled “premature” by Cho, reflects rising concerns in Seoul about U.S. security guarantees. Although expert Victor Cha downplayed the immediate significance, public support for nuclearization in South Korea is high, particularly within the ruling party. The differing approaches of the Trump and Biden administrations toward Korean Peninsula denuclearization highlight the complexity of the situation.
John Q. Hosedrinker