South Koreans' Growing Demand for Nukes Raises Concerns in Volatile Region

A growing number of South Koreans are expressing support for their nation acquiring nuclear weapons or urging the United States to reintroduce tactical nuclear weapons to the region, as they fear that the U.S. may hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend South Korea from a North Korean attack due to the potential for atomic retaliation against American cities. Frequent polls show that between 70% and 80% of South Koreans support this idea, reflecting a surprising erosion of trust in the alliance between the two nations. The debate over South Korea's nuclear weapons has major implications for Asia's future and could potentially jeopardize the U.S.-South Korean alliance and the delicate nuclear balance in the region.