Could The World's Next Nuclear Power Be U.S. Ally South Korea?

The United States has long sought to oppose efforts to expand the exclusive club of nuclear-armed nations, a small clique most recently joined 16 years year ago by North Korea. But as current members expand hone new capabilities and unrest plagues the international community, one or even two of Washington's own allies may seek to build a bomb of their own.

For decades, South Korea and Japan have lived under the umbrella of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, the second largest in the world after that of Cold War-era rival Russia, once again a top-priority foe after last month's incursion into Ukraine. Now, however, Seoul is revisiting its nuclear strategy in what would mark a massive shift in the security situation in Asia and the non-proliferation regime that has attempted to rein in such weapons of mass destruction across the globe.

Lami Kim, assistant professor at the U.S. Army War College's Department of National Security and Strategy, told Newsweek that "there are important differences between Ukraine and South Korea," as "Ukraine is not a U.S. ally, while South Korea has significant strategic importance for the U.S."

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