Defence Minister: South Korea could break its U.S. alliance if it started building nuclear weapons

8 August, 2024 Self-propelled launchers for Hyunmoo-2 (L) ballistic missiles and Hyunmoo-3 cruise missiles. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of South Korea South Korea could break its U.S. alliance if it started building nuclear weapons.

South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik shared this with Reuters. According to him, the United States will not allow South Korea to obtain its own stockpile of nuclear weapons, which, in his opinion, is the most appropriate means of deterring North Korea. This position emerged due to the active development by the northern part of the peninsula of both its own nuclear weapons and means of their delivery.

Hyunmoo-4 ballistic missile test. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea

In addition, Shin Won-sik noted that if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election, his country will have to invest more in its own and independent deterrence forces. "You'll face a huge crack in the U.S. alliance, and if we withdraw from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, it would bring various penalties, starting with an immediate shock in our financial market," Shin Won-sik said in an interview.

In addition, Shin said having a homegrown nuclear arsenal risked devastating fallout to the South's diplomatic standing and economy. "Even in Northeast Asia, there are forces who are openly seeking to change the status quo by force, and we are at the forefront, directly affected," he added.

South Korea test-fires a ballistic missile from a submarine.

Over the past few years, South Korean politicians have been searching for the right approach to maintain good relations with the United States, Russia, China, and North Korea, but due to the great ambitions of these countries, the South is trying to stand out on its own in this group of states. South Korea's missile arsenal consists of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

The South could potentially use these types of missiles to equip them with nuclear warheads and to form its own nuclear deterrent.

In addition, South Korea is currently preparing to build a test center to develop and produce nuclear propulsion systems for submarines and civilian vessels.