In shift, South Korea’s top diplomat says nuclear armament ‘not off the table’ | NK News
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September 22, 2026Sep 22, 2026

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In shift, South Korea’s top diplomat says nuclear armament ‘not off the table’

Cho Tae-yul leaves open possibility of developing nukes to counter North Korea, changing tone after Trump’s return

Developing nuclear weapons to counter North Korea is not “off the table” for South Korea, foreign minister Cho Tae-yul stated on Wednesday, appearing to shift his rhetoric on the issue amid concerns about the U.S. commitment to the ROK’s defense under Donald Trump.

Speaking at a National Assembly session, Cho said that the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to the peninsula is also a possibility, while stressing that this is Seoul’s generic position to prepare for a range of possibilities.

“It’s premature to talk about such a Plan B, but that doesn’t mean it’s off the table,” Cho said.