Posted on 11/23/2010 2:46:07 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday denied it was considering redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons on its territory, watering down a sensitive remark by its defense chief who raised the possibility a day ago.
In response to North Korea's revelation of a new uranium enrichment facility, Defense Minister Kim Tae-yong had raised the possibility on Monday, telling a lawmaker who asked if South Korea would consider such redeployment that the government "will review what you said."
"South Korea and the U.S. have not discussed redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons," a senior official at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said. "And the issue is not a subject of discussion."
"Our aim is to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and that will not change," the official said on the condition of anonymity.
The defense minister made the comment as North Korea was upping the ante in its nuclear gambit by showing visiting U.S. scientists what it claimed was a new uranium enrichment facility equipped with some 2,000 centrifuges.
Uranium is an alternative means to plutonium in making nuclear bombs.
The U.S., who had fought on the South Korean side against the invading North in the 1950-53 Korean War, had tactical nuclear weapons stationed in the South until their withdrawal in 1991 as part of its disarmament initiative.
Just months after the announcement of the withdrawal, South and North Korea also signed an agreement on banning activities for nuclear arms development on their soil. The agreement, called the Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, came into force in 1992.
"Redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea would cross the line of the denuclearization policy on the Korean Peninsula," Deputy Defense Minister Chang Kwang-il told reporters earlier in the day.
Chang said the defense minister's comment had been taken out of context and meant that South Korea could consult with the U.S. with "all possible options" on the table.
He said South Korea, however, has not considered asking the U.S. to bring back its nuclear weapons since their withdrawal.
"There has been no consideration about redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear arms and there has been no consultation with the U.S. over the issue," Chang said.
The nuclear weapons, previously deployed at 16 military installations here five years after the end of the Korean War, were designed to be put atop missiles or artillery warheads as a deterrent against North Korea.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the three-year-long war.
kdh@yna.co.kr (END)
Four thousand tanks, if they all run, and a million men, could roll pretty far into the south before a solid defense could be mounted. North needs free food, and a working economy. What’s not to like about the south.
Where do they get their POL from? PRC?
That would be my guess. The economy indicates any foray into the south would be like the battle of the bulge. A last gasp, with limited fuel, unless China goes like she did in the Korean conflict. Just don’t see that happening this time as China’s economy is tied to ours so closely because of Wal-Mart, etc.
This could simply be a case of third world “lets see what we can get away with”. It is a world wide disease for which there is a cure, but PC says restraint not cure.
I present for your thanksgiving week attention, Nuclear, Iran, Pakistan riding both sides of a fence, Piracy on the high seas, in east Africa, Greece trying the patience of the EU, Terrorism, everywhere by islamists, with virtually no dissenting voice from the rank and file, nuclear North Korea, California, betting on a bailout, Hezbollah, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, unruly children that need a spanking they will never forget.
There is obviously more, much more.
Thanks- I was trying to quit sleeping anyway. Nasty habit. :-)
‘They’re always either at your feet or at your throat.’
I also think that China knew exactly what NK was going to do. There's no way this would happen without their approval and the fact that SK so quickly issued a denial of the placement of tactical nukes confirms that know it too.
Of course a weak USA doesn't help either. There isn't a doubt in my mind that Obama would leave the south out to dry in a heartbeat and both SK and China know this too.
Damn . . . you pretty much hit the nail(s) on the head didn’t you?
Well, we know that N. Korea would never lie to US.
Thanks alot, slick Willie.
Yeah, but Slick is retired.
The same people who ran his ‘administration’ back then, are running the current one. They deserve as much of the blame.
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