Seoul rules out redeployment of US nuclear weapons

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Seoul_rules_out_redeployment_of_US_nuclear_weapons_999.html Seoul (AFP) Nov 23, 2010 South Korea's defence ministry Tuesday ruled out the redeployment of US nuclear weapons on its soil as a deterrent to North Korea, a day after its minister had raised the prospect. "Redeploying US tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea would cross the line set by the policy of denuclearising the Korean peninsula," Deputy Defence Minister Chang Kwang-Il told reporters.
"We've not considered redeploying US tactical nuclear weapons and there has been no consultation with the US over the issue," he was quoted as saying by a ministry spokesman.
The Pentagon also said Monday that the United States has no immediate plans to redeploy the weapons, which were withdrawn in 1991.
Revelations over the weekend about a new uranium enrichment plant in North Korea triggered alarm in Washington, Tokyo and Seoul.
Asked in parliament Monday whether the South would consider asking for a redeployment, Defence Minister Kim Tae-Young told a lawmaker that the government "will review what you said".
His comment made front-page headlines in most newspapers Tuesday.
Chang said that the minister's comment had been taken out of context and meant that the South could consult with the US on "all possible options".
The United States still stations 28,500 troops in the South, but pulled out the atomic weapons as part of a disarmament initiative.

Related articles

• Seoul rules out redeployment of US nuclear weapons - Hindustan Times (news.google.com)
• "US Tactical Nuclear Weapons Returning To South Korea?" and related posts (warnewsupdates.blogspot.com)
• Russia urges calm following gunfight in Korean peninsula (rt.com)
• NKorea's nuke claim provocative, not surprise (foxnews.com)
• U.S. Pushing North Korea on Nuclear Plant, Arms Talks (businessweek.com)

Controlling Tactical Nuclear Weapons from CFR.org - The Council on Foreign Relations by Council on Foreign Relations

Micah Zenko argues that controlling U.S. and Russian supplies of tactical nuclear weapons would reduce the potential for nuclear terrorism, decrease the perceived threat to U.S. allies, and maintain momentum toward President Obama's goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

Related articles

• Get rid of tactical nuclear weapons, Nato leaders told (guardian.co.uk)
• The future of NATO: Fewer dragons, more snakes (economist.com)
• NATO Ponders What to Do with Its Nuclear Weapons (time.com)
• Nuclear Bombs: NATO Ponders How to Handle Its Stockpile (time.com)
• Nuclear Bombs: NATO Ponders How to Handle Its Stockpile (time.com)
• The Heritage Foundation's Rhetorical Arms Race (tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com)
• NATO Ponders What to Do with Its Nuclear Weapons [Zahir shamsery] (ecademy.com)
• A new START to strengthen national security (Sen. Jeanne Shaheen) (thehill.com)
• Lisbon Summit: NATO To Retain Nuclear Arms, Build Missile Shield In Europe by Rick Rozoff (dandelionsalad.wordpress.com)

NATO, Nuclear Weapons and the New Strategic Concept By: Simon Lunn and Zachary Selden | Feature

With global support for nuclear arms control and disarmament gathering momentum, it might seem like an appropriate moment for NATO to fundamentally rethink its approach to the role that nuclear weapons play in its strategic posture. Instead, the alliance is likely to stress continuity, with nuclear weapons continuing to occupy a significant position in its new Strategic Concept.

 http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/6840/nato-nuclear-weapons-and-the-new-strategic-concept

Related articles

• NATO Ponders What to Do with Its Nuclear Weapons [Zahir shamsery] (ecademy.com)
• Russ Wellen: Would Sweeping Disarmament on Our Part Impress Iran? (huffingtonpost.com)
• NATO Charts a New Direction (blogcritics.org)
• Get rid of tactical nuclear weapons, Nato leaders told (guardian.co.uk)
• NATO Ponders What to Do with Its Nuclear Weapons (time.com)
• Factbox: Ministers discuss NATO's future vision (reuters.com)
• Nuclear Bombs: NATO Ponders How to Handle Its Stockpile (time.com)
• NATO Document Addresses Nuclear Disarmament (nytimes.com)
• Germany demands Nato show greater commitment to nuclear disarmament (guardian.co.uk)