PPP floor leader to seek ways to bolster nuclear deterrence against NK threats

The floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party said Tuesday the party will seek ways to bolster nuclear deterrence against North Korea. Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig delivered the warning in a policy address to the National Assembly and criticized the government and ruling party’s approach toward Pyongyang. He also ruled out constitutional amendment talks with the Democratic Party of Korea and pledged to abolish early voting. He said the party would consider extending the main voting period after ballot shortages in the June 3 local elections.

Jeong said the PPP would consider nuclear sharing with the United States, redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, and training to equip F-35 fighter jets with tactical nuclear weapons.

He accused the Democratic Party of Korea of taking a submissive approach toward North Korea and cited the unification minister’s remark that the North’s nuclear capabilities had grown 100,000-fold over 30 years.

Jeong said North Korea could try to use its nuclear weapons as leverage for direct talks with Washington while sidelining Seoul.

He said there would be no constitutional amendment under the current government and pledged to abolish the early voting system.

He said the party would consider extending the main voting period after ballot shortages were reported during the June 3 local elections.

Published Sep 8, 2026 11:54 am KST

Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig, floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, delivers his speech as a negotiating body representative at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said Tuesday his party will seek ways to bolster nuclear deterrence against North Korea, criticizing the government and the ruling party for their submissive approach toward Pyongyang.

Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig made the remarks in his policy address to the National Assembly session, laying out the PPP's priorities on national security and other key issues.

"To counter North Korea's provocations, we will seek ways to secure nuclear deterrence, including through nuclear sharing with the United States, the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula and training to equip F-35 fighter jets with tactical nuclear weapons," he said.

Jeong accused the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) of taking a submissive approach toward North Korea, citing the unification minister's remarks that the North's nuclear capabilities have grown 100,000-fold over the past 30 years.

"What has the DPK done while North Korea strengthened its nuclear capabilities to such an extent?" he said.

Jeong also warned that Pyongyang could use its nuclear weapons as leverage to seek direct talks with Washington while sidelining Seoul.

Jeong's remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea last month while expressing his willingness to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On constitutional revision, Jeong ruled out talks with the DPK, accusing it of seeking to use a constitutional amendment to advance its own interests.

"There will be no constitutional amendment under the current government," he said.

Jeong pledged to abolish the early voting system and consider extending the main voting period following ballot shortages reported during the June 3 local elections.

韩国主要反对党国民力量党党鞭郑严实周二表示，该党将寻求加强对朝鲜核威慑的途径。郑严实议员在国会发表施政演说时发出这一警告，并批评了政府和执政党对平壤的政策。他还排除了与共同民主党就修改宪法进行谈判的可能性，并承诺取消提前投票。他表示，鉴于6月3日地方选举中选票短缺的情况，该党将考虑延长正式投票期。

郑表示，朝鲜人民军将考虑与美国共享核武器、将战术核武器重新部署到朝鲜半岛，以及训练F-35战斗机装备战术核武器。

他指责朝鲜民主党对朝鲜采取顺从的态度，并引用统一部长官的言论称，朝鲜的核能力在30年内增长了10万倍。

郑表示，朝鲜可能会试图利用其核武器作为筹码，与华盛顿进行直接对话，同时排挤首尔。

他表示，在现任政府的领导下不会修改宪法，并承诺废除提前投票制度。

他表示，在6月3日的地方选举中出现选票短缺的情况后，该党将考虑延长主要投票期。

发布于2026年9月8日上午11:54（韩国标准时间）

周二，在首尔国会，主要反对党国民力量党党团领袖郑严实议员作为谈判机构代表发表讲话。（韩联社）

周二，主要反对党人民力量党（PPP）党团领袖表示，该党将寻求加强对朝鲜核威慑的方法，并批评政府和执政党对平壤采取顺从的态度。

郑严实议员在向国会发表施政演说时发表了上述言论，阐述了人民进步党在国家安全和其他关键问题上的优先事项。

他说：“为了应对朝鲜的挑衅，我们将寻求确保核威慑的途径，包括与美国共享核力量、向朝鲜半岛重新部署战术核武器以及训练F-35战斗机装备战术核武器。”

郑义宣指责朝鲜民主主义人民党对朝鲜采取顺从的态度，并援引统一部长官的言论称，朝鲜的核能力在过去30年中增长了10万倍。

“朝鲜人民军在朝鲜核能力如此强大的同时，做了些什么？”他问道。

郑义宣还警告说，平壤可能会利用其核武器作为筹码，寻求与华盛顿直接对话，同时排挤首尔。

郑的这番言论是在美国总统唐纳德·特朗普上个月下令减少与韩国的联合军事演习，同时表示愿意与朝鲜领导人金正恩恢复对话之后发表的。

关于宪法修改问题，郑排除了与民主进步党进行谈判的可能性，指责该党试图利用宪法修正案来推进自身利益。

他说：“在现任政府的领导下，不会进行任何宪法修正。”

在6月3日地方选举中出现选票短缺的情况后，郑承诺将废除提前投票制度，并考虑延长正式投票期。