North’s Atomic Bombs Won’t Change Power Balance on the Korean Peninsula

North Korea’s possession of several nuclear weapons will not shake the power balance on the Korean peninsula, said General Leon J. LaPorte, commander of the United States Forces Korea (USFK), on Wednesday. “Whether North Korea has one or several nuclear weapons does not change the balance on the peninsula,” said the general on a radio news program. “The U.S. and the Republic of Korea retain our ability to deter North Korean aggression and, if required, to decisively defeat the North Korean threat if they were to endanger South Korea.”

He also said the U.S. military believed the North had at least one or two nuclear weapons.

In response to the argument that deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula is necessary to stand up to the North, he said, “The U.S. government fully supports the February 1992 South-North Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We also support the six-party talks and other nations, including South Korea, in seeking a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear issue.”

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com