Tasks Ahead for the Nuclear Consultative Group
The Washington Declaration and NCG, amid North Korean nuclear threats, embodies the expectation, promise, and blueprint of the two countries.
U.S.-ROK Alliance Consultative Mechanisms: Strengthening Deterrence, Providing Reassurance, Facing an Enduring Challenge
Consultative mechanisms collectively reflect the breadth and depth of ROK-U.S. security cooperation, as well as the increasingly complex strategic environment in which the alliance operates.
History’s Long Shadow: Contradictions in the U.S. Commitment to Korea
The history surrounding the U.S. commitment to South Korea, including the nuclear umbrella, is critical to understanding the alliance today.
South Korea’s Drive Toward Deterrent Capabilities
South Korea’s conventional weapons advancements are a critical variable in Seoul’s potential development of an indigenous nuclear deterrent.
Comparing Contexts: South Korea’s Potential Nuclear Armament in the 1970s & 2020s
The 1970s was a turbulent period for the U.S.-ROK alliance, including South Korea’s first attempt to develop its own nuclear weapon.
Japanese Protestation and Pragmatism Towards a Nuclear South Korea
If Korea chose to pursue a nuclear weapon, it is likely that Japan would initially signal disapproval with diplomatic and economic sanctions.
Alternative Futures: ROK Nuclear Weapons and the U.S.-ROK Alliance
A decision by South Korea to acquire its own nulcear weapons would be a shock to the U.S.-Korea alliance. How would it respond?
Global Reverberations of a Nuclear South Korea
If South Korea decides to pursue a nuclear option, the implications would reverberate throughout the global nuclear order, including the NPT.
Detente or Degradation: Would ROK Nuclear Weapons Hinder or Facilitate Inter-Korean relations?
Acquiring latent nuclear capabilities or developing indigenous nuclear weapons entails higher costs than benefits for inter-Korean relations.
A Nuke for a Nuke? Public Debate and Political Party Views on Nuclear Acquisition in South Korea
No major political party takes a firm stance, but whether South Korea should develop its own nuclear weapon is increasingly discussed.