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U.S. defense secretary reiterates stance against deploying tactical nuclear weapons on Korea

U.S. defense secretary reiterates stance against deploying tactical nuclear weapons on Korea

Posted September. 16, 2017 07:31,   

Updated September. 16, 2017 08:01

한국어
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has reiterated his negative stance on the deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. “We have a nuclear deterrent and its location is immaterial,” Mattis told reporters on Wednesday (local time) at Minot Air Force Base, a nuclear base in North Dakota. He was asked whether the U.S. considers the redeployment of its tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula as the same discussion is being made now in South Korea.

“We will not say where they’re stored and where to deploy our nuclear weapons and others," he said. "It’s part of the deterrent that they (they enemy) cannot target them all and we have maintained this approach for a long time. There should always be a big question mark.”

His comment is interpreted as an indirect opposition to the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, which has been widely discussed among South Koreans since North Korea's 6th nuclear test.



Su-Yeon Kim sykim@donga.com