Lessons from Russia's Nuclear Forward‐Deployment to Belarus for the USA and South Korea

Bibliographic Data

ID6444307
AuthorsHwee‐rhak Park (0000-0002-9215-946X, The University of Massachusetts, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume40
Issue3
Pages490-518
Publication date2025-10-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePacific Focus (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1225-4657 • E-ISSN: 1976-5118
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/pafo.70007
OpenAlexW4415218935
LanguageEN
References cited18

Following Belarus's request, Russia deployed its nuclear weapons to Belarus within one or two years, whereas the USA has not even engaged in discussions on a similar option for South Korea, which has faced an existential nuclear threat from North Korea. This article seeks to extract key insights from Belarus's experience and propose corresponding policy implications for the US–South Korea alliance. In particular, the USA must soberly assess whether the current North Korean nuclear threat warrants its nuclear forward‐deployment and whether its strategic interests in South Korea are vital enough to justify such a step. Specifically, it should closely examine the option of submarine‐based forward‐deployment, which could exploit North Korea's maritime vulnerabilities while minimizing criticism from Russia, China, and the broader international community. Simultaneously, South Korea should make sustained efforts to enhance its perceived strategic value to the USA

International Relations and Foreign Policy · Korean Peninsula Historical and Political Studies · Nuclear Issues and Defense

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