The debate has resurfaced in the lead-up to the country’s snap presidential election on June 3, as tensions with Pyongyang escalate.
It took centre stage during the final televised presidential debate on Tuesday night, where Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) front-runner, clashed with his conservative rival, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP), over the possibility of South Korea pursuing nuclear weapons.
“Do you still believe South Korea should arm itself with nuclear weapons?” Lee asked.
Kim responded: “The South Korea-US alliance is the most important pillar of our security. If pursuing nuclear armament is possible within the framework of that alliance, we should consider it.”
Lee condemned the idea as reckless, arguing that hosting US tactical nuclear weapons or pursuing nuclear-sharing agreements would violate US policy and international norms, including the Non-Proliferation Treaty that South Korea ratified in 1975.
