Draft of New US Nuclear Strategy to Expand Tactical Nukes: Implications for South Korea's Security

The U.S. Department of Defense is reportedly reviewing a new nuclear strategy that would expand the role of short-range tactical nuclear weapons to defend allies in regional conflicts against China and Russia.

This assessment stems from the conclusion that long-range strategic nuclear threats, which target major cities and national infrastructure, are alone insufficient to convince adversaries that the United States would actually use nuclear weapons.

NBC News reported, citing multiple sources, that a draft of the new nuclear strategy overseen by Elbridge Colby, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, emphasizes short-range tactical nuclear weapons.

Previous U.S. nuclear strategy has emphasized the capability to destroy an adversary's homeland and nuclear forces using long-range strategic nuclear capabilities, represented by intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

However, the new initiative focuses on expanding options to include not only these large-scale retaliatory means but also smaller nuclear weapons capable of targeting limited areas such as battlefields and military bases.

A senior U.S. defense official told NBC News, "It is our view that we need credible nuclear options," explaining that providing President Donald Trump with a variety of actionable response options would strengthen deterrence.

Through this initiative, the United States plans to make China and Russia believe the threat that Washington could use nuclear weapons for allies even when the U.S. mainland is not directly attacked, which is highly likely to have a direct impact on the security of South Korea and Japan.

This is because the U.S. could consider tactical nuclear weapons as a core response option in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait with China or a contingency on the Korean Peninsula.

However, criticism from some quarters is fierce.

Critics argue that because tactical nuclear weapons have smaller yields and limited ranges compared to strategic nukes, if President Trump were to easily decide to use them, the risk of escalating into an all-out nuclear war could actually increase.

A senior U.S. congressional official pointed out regarding this initiative that it could undermine nuclear deterrence by simultaneously providing passive options in situations where long-range strategic nuclear weapons should be used.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.