At his confirmation hearing on Monday, the nominee to be South Korea’s next defense minister Kim Yong-hyun said he is “open” to the ROK acquiring nuclear weapons to deter North Korea — a striking statement of support for a position that Washington strongly opposes and Seoul has officially disavowed.

But while Kim’s directness was unusual for a cabinet nominee, it was far from the first time that the retired lieutenant general openly entertained South Korean nuclear armament, suggesting he could bring the issue to even greater prominence if confirmed.