Seoul: South Korea's main opposition on Wednesday expressed approval of 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," stated Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung during a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump, inaugurated on Monday, acknowledged North Korea as a "nuclear power," remarking, "(North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un and I got along. I think he will be happy to see I'm coming back." Trump's comments alluded to his 2018-2019 summits with Kim. Lee's statement came amid a political crisis in South Korea, following a brief martial law attempt by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in December. Yoon currently faces detention on insurrection charges, which could lead to life imprisonment or execution if convicted. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is considering whether to reinstate or permanently remove him from office.
Trump's return to the White House has also rekindled debates in Seoul about South Korea possibly 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 questioned on Facebook Wednesday. Na further stated, "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."
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, a potential presidential candidate from the conservative party, voiced similar views. "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 noted 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 emphasized.
PPP interim leader Kwon Young-se expressed "strong regret" over Trump's reference to North Korea as a "nuclear power." Kwon called for an evaluation of whether Trump's comment represents the official U.S. stance or was "merely an offhand remark."