Ex-Trump official says S. Korea's nuclear armament would lead to heightened tension

Former US officials offer contrasting views on North Korea policy and Seoul's nuclear option

Two former senior US officials have offered contrasting perspectives on how to address North Korea's nuclear program, with one warning against South Korea's nuclear armament and the other suggesting conditions for renewed diplomacy may emerge.

Michael Flynn, who served as US national security adviser during President Donald Trump's first term, said he would oppose South Korea acquiring nuclear capabilities to defend against nuclear-armed North Korea, arguing the move would lead to heightened tensions. Speaking Thursday at a Seoul forum hosted by the Korea-US Alliance Foundation, Flynn was responding to claims that South Korea should pursue its own nuclear armament to counter North Korean threats.

"If I was in your shoes, I am not so sure I would want a nuclear capability," Flynn said. "It develops more tension between nation states," he argued, adding that acquiring nuclear capability, unlike nuclear energy, could be "very hazardous."

Instead, Flynn pointed to a "long-term security umbrella" that the United States provides in the region as a viable option to guarantee safety from potential North Korean threats. "What you really want is you want a long-term security umbrella, right?" he said, apparently referring to US extended deterrence.

Flynn also addressed Seoul's push to accelerate the retaking of wartime operational control from Washington, calling the transition of operational control on the battlefield "the most delicate" move that requires a well-practiced, sequential set of decisions. "I mean, operational control, a transition of operational control on the battlefield is probably the most delicate thing that you can do," he said. "You don't just pull it out of your back pocket and go, 'oh, you have to have it, so it's set.'" He noted the transition process could draw attention from countries like China and Russia.

Contrasting view: diplomacy possible under changing conditions

In a separate appearance, Alex Wong, who served as principal deputy national security adviser in the second Trump administration and is now global chief strategy officer at Hanwha Group, said there is currently little incentive for Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table over its nuclear weapons. However, he suggested diplomacy may be possible if strategic conditions change.

Speaking Friday at a Jeju Forum session titled "Lessons from 2018-2019 and the Way Forward: How to Re-Engage with the DPRK," Wong said, "Our strategy should be to identify and encourage imbalances in the North Korean strategy and reposition the nuclear program -- not as a pathway to stability, but so that denuclearization is the most optimal, more positive pathway." DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The conditions for renewed talks simply do not exist right now, he said. Pyongyang's closer ties with Moscow, the confidence the North has gained from surviving sanctions through the COVID-19 pandemic years, and the major powers' preoccupation with other global crises have collectively narrowed the space for engagement, Wong argued.

Key claims

• Michael Flynn opposes South Korea's nuclear armament, saying it would lead to heightened tensions and could be "very hazardous," and instead recommends relying on the US long-term security umbrella.
• Flynn calls the transition of operational control on the battlefield "the most delicate" move, requiring a well-practiced, sequential set of decisions.
• Alex Wong suggests identifying and encouraging imbalances in North Korea's strategy to make denuclearization a more optimal pathway.
• Pyongyang's closer ties with Moscow, confidence from surviving sanctions, and major powers' preoccupation with other crises have narrowed the space for engagement, according to Wong.
• Trump still has a lingering interest in engaging North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is open to dialogue, Wong noted, suggesting a potential window for diplomacy if circumstances change. "Conditions can change very quickly," he said. "Kim Jong-un understands that he has a window of opportunity that will close when President Trump leaves."