South Korean opposition welcomes Trump’s desire to revive talks with N.Korea
Donald Trump’s return to White House brings about renewed calls for South Korea’s own nuclear armament
U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (not seen) signing ceremony as part of the US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island in Singapore in June, 2018. ( The Straits Times - Anadolu Agency )
ANKARA
South Korea’s main opposition on Wednesday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s willingness to resume talks with North Korea.
“We hope President Trump’s intent eases tensions on the Korean Peninsula and leads to denuclearization, inter-Korean exchanges, and peace,” said Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung during a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, according to South Korea's JoongAng Daily.
Trump, who was inaugurated on Monday, referred to North Korea as a “nuclear power,” adding, “(North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un and I got along. I think he will be happy to see I’m coming back.” Trump was referencing his 2018–2019 summits with Kim.
Lee’s remarks coincided with a political crisis in South Korea following a brief martial law attempt by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in December.
Yoon is currently in detention on insurrection charges, which could result in life imprisonment or execution if convicted.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to reinstate or permanently remove him from office.
- Renewed calls for nuclear armament
Trump’s return to the White House has also spurred renewed debates in Seoul about South Korea pursuing its own nuclear weapons program.
“What should we do if the United States re-engages in a dangerous ‘nuclear deal’ with Kim Jong-un?” ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Na Kyung-won wrote on Facebook Wednesday.
“Now that [the United States] seems to be recognizing North Korea as a de facto nuclear power, our choice is clear: we must also possess nuclear weapons to maintain the balance of power,” she added.
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, a potential presidential candidate from the conservative party, echoed similar sentiments.
“Denying the existence of North Korea’s nuclear weapons is a flawed policy, and pursuing denuclearization diplomatically, which is no longer feasible, is also unrealistic,” Hong wrote on Facebook while in the US for Trump’s inauguration.
“The only path forward is to achieve a nuclear balance between the two Koreas to free ourselves from the threat of North Korea’s nuclear weapons,” he said.
PPP interim leader Kwon Young-se expressed “strong regret” over Trump’s reference to North Korea as a “nuclear power.”
Kwon called for an assessment of whether Trump’s comment reflects the official U.S. position or was “merely an offhand remark.”
