U.S. Should Steer Clear Of SoKor, Japan Bids To Develop Nukes

Seventy-one percent of South Koreans favored nuclear weapons in a February survey. Another survey conducted in May indicated that 70.2% of people were in favor of domestic nuclear energy, with 63.6% being on board even if it meant going against the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Robert E. Kelly, a political science professor at Pusan National University wrote for Foreign Policy.

Photo Insert: America has always been against any sort of counter-nuclearization efforts by Japan or South Korea. However, in light of the conflict in Ukraine, the United States should not use its hegemonic position to influence the result of its partners' discussions on WMD.

The obvious reasons for such sentiments are the weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that North Korea has developed and China's expanding militarism. These considerations also affect the nuclearization issue in Japan, albeit to a lesser extent.

America has always been against any sort of counter-nuclearization efforts by Japan or South Korea. However, in light of the conflict in Ukraine, the United States should not use its hegemonic position to influence the result of its partners' discussions on WMD.

Concerns about Russia's use of weapons of mass destruction in the Ukraine conflict provide a case study in the limits to which the United States can respond to an armed nuclear threat. It has been widely speculated in the West that Russian nuclear weapons were behind the denial of Kyiv's request for a no-fly zone.

Weapons of mass destruction owned by China and, more importantly, North Korea, might play a similar limiting or blocking role in East Asian crisis situations.

Contrary to the commitments the United States has made to Japan and South Korea through treaties, NATO has not made a similar commitment to Ukraine.

Nevertheless, despite formal US pledges, Britain and France constructed their own nuclear weapons during the Cold War because they could not believe the United States would sacrifice "New York for Paris." The same reasoning can be seen in action in East Asia right now. The United States will not give up "Los Angeles for Seoul."

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