Calls in South Korea for nuclear weapons as parliamentary poll looms

A man chants slogans during an anti-North Korea rally in central Seoul, South Korea, February 11, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEOUL (Reuters) - A senior figure in South Korea's conservative ruling party said on Monday his country should have nuclear weapons, as concern over how to respond to rising tensions with North Korea loomed as an election issue ahead of parliamentary polls in April.

Opposition liberals have blamed President Park Geun-hye for lacking a clear strategy to deal with the North, which recently launched a long-range rocket and last month tested its fourth nuclear device.