Oh Se-hoon says ROK nukes could improve DPRK human rights, though expert expresses reservations about linking issues
By Ifang Bremer
July 12, 2024
Credits @FFHR.CZ
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon opened a North Korean human rights conference by calling for South Korea to acquire nuclear weapons on Thursday, risking overshadowing the discussion at hand in an apparent effort to boost his profile ahead of the next presidential election.
“Nuclear weapons can only be countered with nuclear weapons,” Mayor Oh said at the 2024 Seoul Forum on North Korean Human Rights on Thursday, stating that “relying solely on the ROK-U.S. cooperation under the U.S. nuclear umbrella … poses significant limitations for our security.”
He said ROK nuclear weapons would “not only deter North Korea’s nuclear program, but also ensure that North Korea’s resources, even those used for nuclear and missile development, can be directed toward improving the basic lives of North Korean citizens.”
The mayor did not explain his remarks but appeared to be suggesting that South Korean nukes would convince Pyongyang to devote fewer resources to weapons of mass destruction.
Oh is likely to run as a conservative candidate in South Korea’s 2027 presidential election and has been one of the most prominent politicians pushing for the ROK to acquire its own nuclear deterrent.
While the U.S. has pushed to provide reassurances of its commitment to South Korea’s defense since last year, discussion of the need for nuclear weapons has recently surged after several other leading conservatives endorsed the use of nukes to defend against North Korea.
Oh’s remarks at the forum generated discussion among attendees about the appropriateness of calling for the ROK to go nuclear at an event focused on DPRK human rights issues.
Brian Myers, a professor at Dongseo University in Busan, pushed back against Oh’s attempt to link North Korea’s nuclear development to human rights issues during a panel discussion.
“Because so far, this linkage has made our side lose interest in the abuses whenever prospects for a nuclear settlement improve,” the experts said.
“I worry also that if we link prison camps and missiles, so to speak, that will only raise suspicions in Pyongyang that we’re highlighting the more emotive issue just to get the world behind our disarmament push.”
The 2024 Seoul Forum on North Korean Human Rights also featured other prominent speakers, including the U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights Julie Turner and the U.N. special rapporteur on DPRK human rights Elizabeth Salmon.
At the forum, Salmon reflected on her term as special envoy so far, stating she has “highlighted the relevance of human peace and security agenda in the context of human rights.”
She also emphasized her efforts to draw attention to the plight of North Korean women and girls, while calling on states that host DPRK victims to provide “psychosocial support.”
Meanwhile, James Heenan, the head of the U.N. human rights office in Seoul, called for more cooperation between states on improving North Korean human rights, stressing the need to consider the views of all member states and groups, especially those with influence over the DPRK.
“Hearing difficult human rights messages from your friends can be more effective” in driving change, he said.
Joon Ha Park contributed reporting to this article. Edited by Bryan Betts
Source: nknews.org
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