South Korean public support for a domestic nuclear weapons program has remained high over the past decade, but a new survey has found that a robust majority strongly backs such an arsenal over stationing U.S. nukes in the country — despite the potential for negative blowback — in the face of growing Chinese assertiveness.
The poll, released Tuesday by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, found that 71% of the South Koreans surveyed favor Seoul developing its own nuclear weapons, while 56% support a deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in the country. However, when asked to choose between the two options, 67% backed a domestic arsenal, compared with just 9% who supported a U.S. deployment, highlighting a clear preference and desire for greater control over any deployment.
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