"South Korea should arm itself with nuclear weapons" 59% → 71%... "Also support Japan's nuclear armament" 17% → 35% [Asking the public about South Korea's security] (JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version) - Yahoo!News
The results of a public opinion poll jointly organized by the JoongAng Ilbo and the East Asia Institute (EAI) revealed that seven in ten ordinary citizens support South Korea arming itself with nuclear weapons.
While the level of trust in the extended deterrence provided by the United States has dropped significantly over the past year, public opinion in favor of nuclear armament has grown stronger.
In addition, public opinion in favor of Japan arming itself with nuclear weapons has also relatively increased.
◇Seven in ten South Koreans "arm themselves with nuclear weapons"
In this survey, 71.4% of respondents answered that "If North Korea does not abandon its nuclear weapons, South Korea must arm itself with nuclear weapons."
More than half of the public supported nuclear armament before, but the trend has changed.
The percentage of people who answered "in favor of nuclear armament" was 69.6% in 2022 but dropped to 58.5% last year after the "Washington Declaration," which included a plan by South Korea and the United States to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korea. However, this year, it has risen again to the level of two years ago.
The EAI pointed out that this can be interpreted as a result of a sharp increase in distrust of the United States' extended deterrence over the past year (26.2% to 47.4%).
Although South Korea and the United States have achieved notable results since the Washington Declaration, such as the launch of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) and the signing of the "Korean Peninsula Nuclear Deterrence Nuclear Operational Guidelines," public opinion is not entirely convinced of this and is gradually leaning toward nuclear armament of its own.
◇ "Japan should also be nuclear-armed"
A fourfold increase in two years
What is noteworthy is that public opinion in favor of Japan's nuclear armament is also rising.
The percentage of people who answered that "Japan should become nuclear-armed if North Korea does not abandon its nuclear program" was only 9.1% in 2022 but rose to 17.2% last year.
This year, it has risen to 34.8%.
It has increased nearly fourfold in two years.
This result can be seen as somewhat contradictory to the general perception that is wary of Japan's strengthening of its military power.
As the majority of the public believes that North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are gradually becoming more advanced → and the "nuclear umbrella" may weaken depending on the results of the US presidential election → they have concluded that South Korea and Japan must strengthen their deterrent power through "accompanying nuclear armament."
In this survey, 72% of respondents were pessimistic, believing that "North Korea will not abandon its nuclear program. " However, 82.9% still answered that "the goal of North Korea's denuclearization must be maintained."
It can be interpreted that the recognition that the goal of denuclearization must be pursued unwaveringly, even amid anxiety and distrust, has ultimately led to the judgment that South Korea and Japan must join hands to defend themselves.
This is believed to be based on the recognition that South Korea and Japan face similar threats, but it can also be seen as circumstantial evidence that a considerable number of people sympathize with the need for security cooperation with Japan.
◇ "South Korea-Japan Security Cooperation"
Stable support
The number of people who answered, "South Korea-Japan security cooperation is necessary to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," remained above 70%, at 72% last year and 70.8% this year.
Regarding the level of security cooperation, 35.6% of respondents this year answered that "information sharing is necessary," and 21.6% responded that "not only information sharing, but also the establishment of a new policy consultation body for joint responses" should be done.
One in five respondents believes that more cooperation than the current South Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is necessary.
2024/10/6 in Umeda
The results of a public opinion poll jointly organized by the JoongAng Ilbo and the East Asia Institute (EAI) revealed that seven in ten ordinary citizens support South Korea arming itself with nuclear weapons.
While the level of trust in the extended deterrence provided by the United States has dropped significantly over the past year, public opinion in favor of nuclear armament has grown stronger.
In addition, public opinion in favor of Japan arming itself with nuclear weapons has also relatively increased.
◇Seven in ten South Koreans "arm themselves with nuclear weapons"
In this survey, 71.4% of respondents answered that "If North Korea does not abandon its nuclear weapons, South Korea must arm itself with nuclear weapons."
More than half of the public supported nuclear armament before, but the trend has changed.
The percentage of people who answered "in favor of nuclear armament" was 69.6% in 2022 but dropped to 58.5% last year after the "Washington Declaration," which included a plan by South Korea and the United States to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korea. However, this year, it has risen again to the level of two years ago.
The EAI pointed out that this can be interpreted as a result of a sharp increase in distrust of the United States' extended deterrence over the past year (26.2% to 47.4%).
Although South Korea and the United States have achieved notable results since the Washington Declaration, such as the launch of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) and the signing of the "Korean Peninsula Nuclear Deterrence Nuclear Operational Guidelines," public opinion is not entirely convinced of this and is gradually leaning toward nuclear armament of its own.
◇ "Japan should also be nuclear-armed"
A fourfold increase in two years
What is noteworthy is that public opinion in favor of Japan's nuclear armament is also rising.
The percentage of people who answered that "Japan should become nuclear-armed if North Korea does not abandon its nuclear program" was only 9.1% in 2022 but rose to 17.2% last year.
This year, it has risen to 34.8%.
It has increased nearly fourfold in two years.
This result can be seen as somewhat contradictory to the general perception that is wary of Japan's strengthening of its military power.
As the majority of the public believes that North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are gradually becoming more advanced → and the "nuclear umbrella" may weaken depending on the results of the US presidential election → they have concluded that South Korea and Japan must strengthen their deterrent power through "accompanying nuclear armament."
In this survey, 72% of respondents were pessimistic, believing that "North Korea will not abandon its nuclear program. " However, 82.9% still answered that "the goal of North Korea's denuclearization must be maintained."
It can be interpreted that the recognition that the goal of denuclearization must be pursued unwaveringly, even amid anxiety and distrust, has ultimately led to the judgment that South Korea and Japan must join hands to defend themselves.
This is believed to be based on the recognition that South Korea and Japan face similar threats, but it can also be seen as circumstantial evidence that a considerable number of people sympathize with the need for security cooperation with Japan.
◇ "South Korea-Japan Security Cooperation"
Stable support
The number of people who answered, "South Korea-Japan security cooperation is necessary to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," remained above 70%, at 72% last year and 70.8% this year.
Regarding the level of security cooperation, 35.6% of respondents this year answered that "information sharing is necessary," and 21.6% responded that "not only information sharing, but also the establishment of a new policy consultation body for joint responses" should be done.
One in five respondents believes that more cooperation than the current South Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is necessary.
2024/10/6 in Umeda
