The United States said on Monday that it has no plan to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"As you know, our policy remains support for a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula, so we don't have any plans to change that policy, " State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a regular news briefing, in reply to a question about an amendment approved by the House Committee on Armed Services last week that could allow for tactical nuclear weapons in ROK.

Chung Mong-joon, a seven-term lawmaker of ROK's ruling Saenuri Party who recently declared himself a presidential candidate, said last week that his country should bring back U.S. nuclear weapons to deter nuclear threats posed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Observers believe that Pyongyang could conduct its third nuclear test in the near future following its failed rocket launch last month.

The U.S. withdrew its nuclear weapons from ROK in 1991 for arms reduction, but has since repeatedly voiced its commitment to defending its ally, including by keeping the country under its nuclear umbrella.

The U.S. has stationed some 28,500 troops in ROK since the 1950- 1953 Korean War which ended with a truce.