Will U.S. Tactical Nuclear Weapons Be Positioned In South Korea?

U.S. soldiers take part in a joint military drill with South Korean soldiers north of Seoul in early June. KIM JIN-TAE / AFP / Getty

Calls For Nuclear Weapons In South Korea -- UPI

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- With the U.S. defense chief in Seoul for security talks, a group of scholars and retired military officials have called for a redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea to counter North Korea's nuclear drive.

They also urged the United States to delay the planned transfer of wartime control of South Korean troops to Seoul beyond 2012, citing lingering threats from the North.

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My Comment: I was surprised when I read this report. In essence, South Korea does not trust the U.S. Government's assurance that they will protect South Korea from a nuclear attack by the North Koreans. For the South Koreans, the only way that they will trust the U.S. to keep its word is if the U.S. positions nuclear tactical weapons in South Korea under the command and control of U.S. forces.

Will the U.S. under President Obama comply .... I have my doubts. President Obama is focused on nuclear disarmament, not on positioning nuclear missiles in other countries. For the South Koreans, I am sure they are now looking at their own options, including maybe laying the groundwork to initiate their own nuclear weapons program if they feel that the North Korea are still proceeding with their own nuclear program.