MOSCOW, 26 November/ Radio Sputnik. According to 19FortyFive columnist Robert Kelly, South Korea has at least two reasons to start developing nuclear weapons. About informs RIA News.

According to Kelly, the first reason can be considered as the loss of trust between Seoul and Washington due to the emergence of ballistic missiles capable of reaching US soil in Pyongyang.

The columnist also adds that US and South Korean officials have different views on security issues. So if opposition to Pyongyang is central to Seoul, then the cornerstone for Washington is “great power rivalry,” he writes.

On the one hand, Kelly acknowledges that South Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons would help smooth out its differences with the United States. On the other hand, he cites the situation in India and Pakistan as an example, stating that this could lead to further nuclearization of the region.

The author of the article expressed confidence that even if South Korea acquires nuclear weapons, Japan and Southeast Asian countries will not develop their own nuclear programs. But Kelly said it was impossible to predict the reaction of North Korea and China.

Earlier, Sputnik radio described how discussions of equipment for the production of nuclear weapons had drawn NATO allies.

Terse. Selected quotes only telegraph channel.