Everything but the Bomb: South Korea's Nuclear Hedging Strategy

Amid North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities and the declining credibility of U.S. extended deterrence, South Korea has a strong motive to pursue its own nuclear deterrent. With its advanced nuclear energy program, South Korea possesses the means to develop nuclear weapons indigenously. However, its opportunity to do so is constrained by the prohibitive economic, security and reputational costs of nuclear armament. To circumvent these costs, Seoul is engaging in "nuclear hedging," purs...