South Korea is not considering building its own nuclear weapons and focusing instead on strengthening deterrence with the United States to counter the nuclear threat from North Korea, according to President Yoon Suk Yeol in his interview with Czech newspaper Hospodarske Noviny.
The president made the remarks during his trip to the Czech Republic. Yeol travelled to the European country with the intention of having Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) conclude a major nuclear energy agreement. Earlier, North Korea unveiled its uranium enrichment plant for the first time.
He reaffirmed Seoul’s commitment to the Nuclear Consultative Group, established during a summit with US President Joe Biden in April 2023. In July, the two leaders adopted nuclear strategy guidelines outlining conventional military support for the Asian country in case of contingencies. Extended deterrence suggests the US has commitment to defend its ally using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear forces.
“South Korea has established a mechanism that can effectively deter and respond to North Korea’s nuclear threats without the need for its own nuclear armament. South Korea is prioritising bolstering its own military capabilities and bolstering the effectiveness of the extended deterrence with the US against North Korean nuclear threats,” according to him.
Separately, he emphasised Seoul’s efforts to revive the domestic nuclear industry by reversing the previous government’s policy of phasing out nuclear power. Last week, South Korea’s nuclear watchdog approved the construction of the Shin-Hanul 3 and 4 reactors.
The country has 26 nuclear power plants, providing about 30 per cent of the country’s electricity, but the number will rise to 30 when four more reactors, including the Shin-Hanul 3 and 4 reactors, are completed.
