Joel Petersson Ivre 유엘

(LEAD) FM Cho calls nuclear-free Korean Peninsula 'imperative' never to be abandoned | Yonhap News Agency (ATTN: UPDATES with remarks by China, Japan's ambassadors in last 5 paras) SEOUL, N...

I’m not saying these views should be ignored (the books are on my to- read list), but there is a tactical element to this too. Why did the people collect 10m signatures for nuclear armament suddenly realize that a ”slow incremental approach” was necessary?

For context:

en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...

Hmmmm the same group that was loudly extolling the virtues of independent nuclear armament under the previous nuclear-friendly government now changes tack the same summer a new anti-nuclear gov comes to power. Framed here as a slow deliberate re-thinking of Seoul’s relationship with Washington.

Seoul’s pledge of $33 billion in support to USFK shows growing defense burden under Trump Experts say a clause on “comprehensive support” for US Forces Korea in the recently released fact sheet on security agreements between the US and Korea could be cause for concern

"Even if we take the government at its word, it would still mean Korea is spending $3.3 billion annually, or three times the amount it is paying for defense costs at present."

Dirty, Dangerous… and Difficult? Regional Perspectives on a Nuclear South Korea - Alexander M. Hynd, 2025 Domestic support for a nuclear South Korea is increasingly noticeable—with envisioned pathways including the return of US tactical nuclear weapons, a NATO-style...

Actually not entirely anecdotal, Alex Hynd makes that argument here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

This entirely anecdotal but whenever I discuss the Korean nuclear debate with Chinese I get the distinct sense that they are more concerned with US-ROK nuclear sharing (aimed at them) than independent armament (aimed at North Korea).

And if you don’t close the door properly when you leave:
DING DING DING I AM NOT LOCKED 😡😡😡

It wasn’t until I had to put a baby to sleep every night that I realized how much light and noise exist in a Korean home. There’s an LED climate control panel on the bed room wall that won’t turn off, my washing machine plays Schubert after a cycle, my door proudly announces 🎶🎶🎶I AM LOCKED ☺️☺️☺️

How much did Gaetz Venmo you to get this framing?

Always appreciate you sharing your two cents, Frank.

Responsibility Over Rivalry: Why India and Pakistan Should Reject Nuclear Testing | Asia-Pacific Leadership Network

New @apln.network commentary on implications of the nuclear testing debate for 🇮🇳 and 🇵🇰, by @khansahar1.bsky.social & @haleemasaadia.bsky.social -

Well said!

It's a terrible plan if that is the case. If – and it's a huge if – they get HEU reactors, those will be sealed shut (AUKUS style) and the US (and the rest of the world) will be scrutinizing the whole enterprise by the seams.

Alternatively, this is driven by some form of prestige-related yee-haw-strategic-autonomy chimera on the progressive side, with a side of giving the ROKN a nice toy for not being political like the army.

To be clear, these are also not good reasons for getting a nuclear sub.

So at face value, the (progressive) arguments in favor of a nuclear propelled submarine are either weak or non-existent, or someone is not being honest about what they want and why they want it.

3) Maintaining a continuous at sea nuclear deterrent; but the ROK progressives don't want a nuclear weapon, or so they say.

2) Extending operational range; but ROK progressives don't want to get involved beyond the Peninsula, or so they say.

1) Hunting other nuclear subs; this is the stated rationale but you can do the same thing more cheaply with diesel and other ASW capabilities.

There are three reasons for getting a nuclear propelled submarine but none apply to the ROK:

李대통령 "방위비 증액·대미투자 확대…핵잠 연료 허용해달라"(종합) | 연합뉴스 (경주=연합뉴스) 임형섭 이상현 황윤기 기자 = 이재명 대통령은 29일 도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령을 향해 "핵추진잠수함의 연료를 우리가 공급받을...

ROK President asks Trump to allow nuclear propulsion for South Korean submarines.

www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2025...

We Don't Need to Live in a House Made of Dynamite: Take Action Today Take action to stop dangerous and unnecessary plans to produce plutonium bomb cores for new nuclear weapons. Write Congress today.

Here's the correct link to take action! 👇

SCIENTISTS REACT 🎬

UCS nuclear experts watched the trailer for A #HouseOfDynamite, coming to Netflix this weekend, and here’s what they had to say: “I hope this film is a wake-up call.”

Take action: act.ucsusa.org/4hormMp

Not today, Satan!

Pakistan says its nuclear program can be made available to Saudi Arabia under defense pact Pakistan’s defense minister says that his nation’s nuclear program “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if needed under the countries’ new defense pact.

Pakistan says its nuclear program can be made available to Saudi Arabia under defense pact

As much as I would like it to be true, I don't think this kind of transfer necessarily violates the NPT. Thanks AUKUS!

Between the Georgia raid and the likely election of a far right-wing PM in Japan, Korea’s relations with each look shaky. But when the excrement eventually hits the fan, expect the usual suspects to blame it on ”Korea’s pro-China President” instead.

MTCR?

I’m happy to chalk this into the ” things that weren’t gonna happen aren’t gonna happen even more now” column

Nuclear Weapons At China's 2025 Victory Day Parade - Federation of American Scientists This buildup appears to contradict China's obligations under the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and could well stimulate nuclear buildups in the United States and India.

TL;DR of nukes at China's military parade yesterday:

🤔 DF-61 - new ICBM??
🕳️ DF-31BJ - silo loader?
✈️ air-launched ballistic missile?
🔺 entire nuclear triad displayed for first time

Read our @scientistsorg.bsky.social team's full analysis below:

And they never link to the original so yo can never check if something else is off.

I’m going to straight up adapt this for anything I write or edit in the future.