A U.S. Defense Department official says the U.S. has no plans to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea.

The official said Monday that there is no change in the U.S.’s position of supporting a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. He made the remark as efforts are being made in Congress, mainly by Republican lawmakers, to redeploy nuclear weapons in South Korea as a way to counter North Korea’s long-range rocket launch and potential additional nuclear tests.

The official added that tactical weapons are not needed to defend South Korea.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland also told reporters that Washington has no intention to change its current policies regarding tactical nuclear weapons and the Korean Peninsula.