Re-examining the Introduction of 280 mm Cannon and Honest John Rocket into Korea

Описание: [Seminar Overview]
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 14:00-16:00.
Language: English

[Presentation Topic]
"Re-examining the Introduction of 280 mm Cannon and Honest John Rocket into Korea"

[Speakers]
Presenter:
Dr. Seung Mo Kang (Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy, KIMS)

Discussant:
Mr. Harry W. S. Lee (PhD Student, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University)

Moderator:
Prof. Yoko Iwama (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies)

[Presenter’s Biography]
Seung Mo Kang
Dr. Kang specializes in South Korean national strategy and U.S. foreign policy since the late 19th century. His doctoral dissertation examined the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the formation of the post-World War II Pacific order. He received his PhD from the London School of Economics. He is currently a Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy.
His major publication is The Crafting of the Postwar Peace Treaty with Japan, 1945–51 (Routledge, 2024).

[Abstract]
On 29 and 30 January 1958, the United Nations Command announced that 280 mm cannons and Honest John rockets had been deployed toSouth Korea. Why were these weapons chosen over others, and why were they introduced in January 1958?
This presentation argues that the choice and timing of these weapons were shaped by Eisenhower’s budget-conscious policies, Washington’s evolving nuclear weapons employment strategy, the U.S. Army’s structural transformation, and developments on the Korean Peninsula. Seeking to reduce defense costs, Washington increasingly relied on nuclear weapons in place of conventional strength. By 1955, the National Security Council had determined that tactical nuclear weapons could be used in localized situations, provided this did not provoke an all-out war with Moscow or Beijing. Accordingly, the U.S. Army restructured itself as a nuclear-capable force. Simultaneously, Washington sought to reduce both U.S. and ROK troop levels in Korea. To compensate for manpower reductions, the deployment of nuclear-capable weapons was proposed. After protracted internal debate, Washington informed Seoul in September 1957.