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Chung Mong-joon urges tactical nuclear weapons for Korea, calls for Asia's own NATO

Published: 18 Feb. 2025, 08:55 Updated: 18 Feb. 2025, 16:59

SEO JI-EUN
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Chung Mong-joon, also known as MJ Chung, honorary chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, attends a donation ceremony at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington on Monday to establish the MJ Chung Distinguished Chair in Security Studies. [ASAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES]

Chung Mong-joon, founder and honorary chairman of the Seoul-based think tank Asan Institute for Policy Studies, called for the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of an Asian regional security alliance similar to NATO.

“The logic of deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Europe but not in the Korean Peninsula, where the security situation is more severe, is not convincing,” Chung said during a formal donation ceremony at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington on Monday. “Now, the redeployment of some of these weapons to the bases in South Korea needs to be considered."

Chung Mong-joon donates to Johns Hopkins international studies department

Chung also proposed forming a multilateral military alliance in the Indo-Pacific region to counter threats from North Korea, China and Russia.

"The United States and its allies and partners ... need to show credible resolve to deter North Korean, Chinese and Russian military adventurism," Chung said. "We may call it the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization, or IPTO."

He further stressed the need to strengthen the existing "hub and spokes" alliance system, in which the United States maintains bilateral treaties with South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand.

"[These treaty allies] should strengthen the 'spoke to spoke' cooperation," Chung said. "We should also increase cooperation with important partners like India, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam."

Chung said that his proposals were not intended to contain or provoke regime change in any sovereign state.

"It is about ensuring that the sovereignty of all countries in the Indo-Pacific is respected so that we can live free from coercion," he said. "This will allow us to coexist, maintain economic relations and avoid all-out war."

Chung also welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in Korea's shipbuilding industry, which was mentioned in a phone call with now-impeached Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following Trump’s election victory.

"This will help strengthen the U.S. naval fleet," Chung said. "Korea has much to contribute to these collective efforts."

Chung, whose English name is MJ Chung, is the major shareholder of HD Hyundai, which focuses on shipbuilding and energy. He entered politics in 1988 and served seven consecutive terms in the National Assembly.

Monday's ceremony marked the establishment of the MJ Chung Distinguished Chair in Security Studies at SAIS. Chung donated $7.5 million to support research on security issues, including North Korea’s nuclear program and broader global security challenges.

Chung earned his Ph.D. in international relations from SAIS in 1993.

Update, Feb. 18: Added further details of Chung's speech.

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