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Quotes of the Day:
“The best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take a rest, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice. Ironically, their virtues make them vulnerable; they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed.”
- Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
"A man will be imprisoned in a room with a door that's unlocked and opens inwards; as long as it does not occur to him to pull rather than push."
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
"The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see."
- Alexandra K. Trenfor
1. SASC Hearing on Korea
2. N. Korea says its status as nuclear weapons state 'final, irreversible'
3. Press Statement of DPRK Foreign Minister
4. Minister sees possibility of major N. Korean provocation ahead of Yoon-Biden summit
5. N. Korean nuclear test not matter of if but when: Gen. LaCamera
6. U.S. takes defense commitment to S. Korea very seriously: Kirby.
7. S. Korean military aircraft leaves to evacuate nationals in war-torn Sudan
8. Korea to receive new shells in return for 'old shells' loaned to US
9. Videos of Korean war heroes to be aired on Times Square
10. Samsung, LG unveil videos dedicated to Korean War veterans at Times Square
11. Yoon bets on strengthening ties with democratic allies
12. S. Korea’s dilemma on military aid for Ukraine
13. [INTERVIEW] Moon calls for new paradigm for peace on Korean Peninsula
14. [ANALYSIS] Yoon asked to focus on key economic issues at summit with Biden
15. Kim Jong-un takes his daughter to work again for space headquarters visit
16. How to Prepare for the Future After Seven Decades of the U.S.-South Korea Alliance
1. SASC Hearing on Korea
2 hour testimony can be viewed at this link: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-receive-testimony-on-the-posture-of-united-states-indo-pacific-command-and-united-states-forces-korea-in-review-of-the-defense-authorization-request-for-fiscal-year-2024-and-the-future-years-defense-program
General LaCamera's 15 page statement can be accessed here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/USFK%20FY24%20Posture%20Statement%20Final%20SASC%20(006).pdf
FULL COMMITTEE HEARING
HEARING STATUSOPEN/CLOSED: HEARING TITLETO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ON THE POSTURE OF UNITED STATES INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND AND UNITED STATES FORCES KOREA IN REVIEW OF THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND THE FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PROGRAM
Date: Thursday, April 20th, 2023
Time: 09:30am
Location: SD-G50
WITNESSES
2. N. Korea says its status as nuclear weapons state 'final, irreversible'
It is possible KJU could walk this back because she has been corrected in the past. But I doubt it.
I wonder if the words "final" and "irreversible" are used deliberately as a counter to CVID.
We should have absolutely no doubt that Kim will never agree to denuclearization. But for those who argue that we should then shift to arms control negotiation, keep in mind that if we do so Kim will assess his political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies as successful and will continue to execute them.
Video at the link: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230421000353325?section=nk/nk
N. Korea says its status as nuclear weapons state 'final, irreversible' | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · April 21, 2023
SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's foreign minister said Friday that the United States and the West have no right to argue about its status as a global nuclear weapons power, slamming a recent joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) as an interference.
In a statement, Choe Son-hui took issue with a joint statement recently released by the G7 Foreign Ministers condemning the North's unlawful ballistic missile launches and saying that Pyongyang "cannot and will never" have the status of a nuclear-weapon state under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"The G7 has no authority or qualification for the exercise of sovereignty and national status of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," she said, referring to the North by its official name. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's status as a global nuclear power is final and irreversible."
NK says its status as nuclear weapons state 'final, irreversible'
Youtube
https://youtu.be/UuQCzEm951M
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · April 21, 2023
3. Press Statement of DPRK Foreign Minister
A lot to parse here. Ending the hostile policy is code for getting US forces off of the peninsula. A World Class nuclear power is how the regime wants to be known.
They have no interest in what the G7 does but they are responding to its statement.
Excerpts;
What should change now is not the DPRK but the U.S., and the U.S. should bear in mind that its security can be guaranteed only when it completely roots out its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
The position of the DPRK as a world-class nuclear power is final and irreversible.
G7, a closed group of a handful of egoistic countries, does not represent the just international community but serves as a political tool for ensuring the U.S. hegemony.
We make it clear that we don't have any interest in what G7 does but if it shows any behavioral attempt to infringe upon the sovereignty and fundamental interests of the DPRK, it will be completely deterred by strong counteraction.
Taking this opportunity, I courteously remind the G7 foreign ministers once again that the DPRK is free from any NPT obligations as it legally withdrew from the treaty 20 years ago in accordance with the withdrawal procedures specified in Article 10 of NPT. -0-
Press Statement of DPRK Foreign Minister
Date: 21/04/2023 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) | Read original version at source
https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1682031885-724478252/press-statement-of-dprk-foreign-minister/
Pyongyang, April 21 (KCNA) -- Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea released a press statement on April 21.
It reads:
I clarify the following stand as regards the fact that G7 foreign ministers made public a "joint statement" full of extremely interventionist and improper contents, malignantly pulling up the DPRK over the legitimate exercise of its sovereignty.
G7 has neither authority nor qualification to say this or that about the DPRK's exercise of its sovereignty and its national status.
The measures the DPRK has so far taken to bolster up its military capabilities for self-defence constitute a just exercise of its sovereignty to deter threat from the unstable security environment caused by the reckless and provocative military maneuvers of the U.S. and its allies, defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and control and manage the situation on the Korean peninsula in a stable way.
We will continue to take action measures based on all legal rights granted to a sovereign state until the military threat posed by the U.S. and its allied forces hostile toward us is completely removed and the hostile surrounding environment harassing the independent existence and development of our country is put to a definite end.
The DPRK's position as a nuclear weapons state is not a thing granted or recognized by anyone but was established along with the existence of the actual nuclear deterrence and fixed by the law on the state nuclear force policy adopted to the unanimous will of all the Korean people.
G7 urges us to "completely and irreversibly dismantle our nukes", saying that the DPRK cannot have the status of a nuclear weapons state according to the NPT. This is just the most absurd and illegal interference in the internal affairs of the DPRK to force it into flouting its sacred state law.
Explicitly speaking, it is the essence of the DPRK's access to nuclear weapons that it was compelled to have access to nukes literally to defend itself from the U.S. threat, not to be recognized by others.
The position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state will remain as an undeniable and stark reality - no matter that the U.S. and the West would not recognize it for a hundred or a thousand years.
It is anachronistic to think that the right to and capability for nuclear strike is exclusive to Washington.
We will never seek any recognition and approval from anyone as we are satisfied with our access to the strength for a tit-for-tat strike against the U.S. nuclear threat.
The U.S. and the West have no right to say this or that about the DPRK's position as a nuclear weapons state, and it will never change no matter what they say.
What should change now is not the DPRK but the U.S., and the U.S. should bear in mind that its security can be guaranteed only when it completely roots out its hostile policy toward the DPRK.
The position of the DPRK as a world-class nuclear power is final and irreversible.
G7, a closed group of a handful of egoistic countries, does not represent the just international community but serves as a political tool for ensuring the U.S. hegemony.
We make it clear that we don't have any interest in what G7 does but if it shows any behavioral attempt to infringe upon the sovereignty and fundamental interests of the DPRK, it will be completely deterred by strong counteraction.
Taking this opportunity, I courteously remind the G7 foreign ministers once again that the DPRK is free from any NPT obligations as it legally withdrew from the treaty 20 years ago in accordance with the withdrawal procedures specified in Article 10 of NPT. -0-
www.kcna.kp (Juche112.4.21.)
4. Minister sees possibility of major N. Korean provocation ahead of Yoon-Biden summit
Maybe. Maybe not? We should try to determine what effect Kim will be trying to achieve if he tests on before (or during) the summit. And then we should determine what effect he can actually achieve.
I do wish the MOU would focus on unification planning and influence activities and leave these assessments to MOFA, MND, NIS, and the Presidential offices.
Minister sees possibility of major N. Korean provocation ahead of Yoon-Biden summit | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이민지 · April 21, 2023
SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Kwon Young-se said Friday the possibility of North Korea launching a "high-intensity" provocation ahead of President Yoon Suk Yeol's upcoming state visit to the United States cannot be ruled out.
Speculations remain high that the North may soon launch a military spy satellite, following a series of weapons tests, including the launch of what it claimed to be a solid-fuel Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile.
"While continuing nuclear threats and provocations, the North has not been responding to routine inter-Korean calls," Kwon said, referring to the North's refusal to answer daily calls through the cross-border liaison line and the military hotline for two weeks.
"In particular, the possibility of North Korea's high-intensity provocation cannot be ruled out ahead of events like the South Korea-U.S. summit."
Yoon is scheduled to pay a state visit to the U.S. from April 24-29 to hold a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and mark the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance.
Kwon also instructed ministry officials to thoroughly prepare for the possibility of the North returning to dialogue in accordance with changes in geopolitical circumstances.
In this file photo, Unification Minister Kwon Young-se speaks at a press conference at the government complex building in Seoul on April 11, 2023. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이민지 · April 21, 2023
5. N. Korean nuclear test not matter of if but when: Gen. LaCamera
Important statements from General LaCamera. I would argue his final statement below is most important. We must not take the alliance for granted. Those who are responsible for strategic communications in the government, and military should use these as a guide.
Excerpts
"Over the last ten years, DPRK has increased its capabilities and capacities, and is no longer a regional nuisance or problem for only U.S. and ROK forces on the Korean Peninsula," he said, adding, "Such a conflict could immediately become a regional conflict and have a global impact, just as Russia's war against Ukraine has."
...
"Contrary to DPRK's rhetoric blaming the U.S. and the U.S.-ROK Alliance for tensions on the Korean Peninsula, DPRK's actions demonstrate that if conflict were to resume it would be due to DPRK aggression," said LaCamera.
The U.S. general said should there be any conflict on the Korean Peninsula, it would impact the entire region and the globe.
...
"The best way to deter DPRK is to maintain our ironclad commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance which has endured for almost 70 years -- and to never take it for granted," LaCamera said.
N. Korean nuclear test not matter of if but when: Gen. LaCamera | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · April 20, 2023
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, April 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is set to conduct its seventh nuclear test, the chief of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday, arguing it is not a matter of if but when.
Gen. Paul LaCamera also said the North's evolving nuclear and missile capabilities no longer make the country a problem for the U.S. and South Korea only, but the entire region.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "believes a nuclear deterrent is the best means to preserve his regime and coerce the international community to lift sanctions. He is determined to operationalize his nuclear arsenal and is developing a credible second-strike capability," LaCamera said in opening remarks submitted to the Senate armed services committee for a hearing on U.S. posture in the Indo-Pacific.
Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, is seen delivering opening remarks in a Senate armed services committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 2023, in this captured image. (Yonhap)
"Right now, KJU (Kim Jong-un) is poised to conduct a 7th nuclear test; without outside influence, it is not a matter of 'if' DPRK will detonate another nuclear device but 'when,'" he added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
North Korea conducted its sixth and last nuclear test in September 2017.
Officials in Seoul and Washington have said Pyongyang may conduct its seventh nuclear test "at any time," noting the country appears to have completed all preparations for a nuclear test.
The USFK commander said the most concerning was North Korea's threat to use nuclear weapons against the U.S. and South Korea, citing the country's new nuclear policy law, announced in September 2022, that said Pyongyang would preemptively use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states when the non-nuclear states are deemed to be "colluding with nuclear states."
"Contrary to DPRK's rhetoric blaming the U.S. and the U.S.-ROK Alliance for tensions on the Korean Peninsula, DPRK's actions demonstrate that if conflict were to resume it would be due to DPRK aggression," said LaCamera.
ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.
The U.S. general said should there be any conflict on the Korean Peninsula, it would impact the entire region and the globe.
"Over the last ten years, DPRK has increased its capabilities and capacities, and is no longer a regional nuisance or problem for only U.S. and ROK forces on the Korean Peninsula," he said, adding, "Such a conflict could immediately become a regional conflict and have a global impact, just as Russia's war against Ukraine has."
The USFK chief emphasized the need to maintain and further enhance the U.S. alliance with South Korea.
"The best way to deter DPRK is to maintain our ironclad commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance which has endured for almost 70 years -- and to never take it for granted," LaCamera said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · April 20, 2023
6. U.S. takes defense commitment to S. Korea very seriously: Kirby
Our successful deterrence for 70 years has made us complacent. He should not have to remind everyone of this but because too many take the alliance for granted he must do this.
U.S. takes defense commitment to S. Korea very seriously: Kirby | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · April 21, 2023
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, April 20 (Yonhap) -- The United States takes its defense commitment to South Korea "very, very seriously," a White House official said Thursday, following Russia's threat to arm North Korea if South Korea sends lethal assistance to Ukraine.
John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said the U.S. is grateful for the support South Korea has already provided to Ukraine.
"I would just remind that we have a treaty alliance with South Korea. We take that commitment very, very seriously," Kirby told a press briefing when asked to comment on Russia's threat to arm North Korea.
John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, is seen answering questions during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on April 20, 2023. (Yonhap)
The Russian threat came after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said South Korea may be obliged to provide more than humanitarian assistance to Ukraine if Russia conducted large-scale attacks on civilians.
The Kremlin said that providing military aid to Ukraine would mean "Seoul becoming involved in the conflict to a certain extent," and threatened to arm North Korea if South Korea armed Ukraine.
"We are grateful for the support that South Korea has already provided Ukraine," Kirby said, noting Seoul has already provided some US$100 million worth of humanitarian aid assistance to the East European country.
"And of course, they've been very vocal in supporting Ukraine and they've been very vocal in speaking out against Russia's aggression," he added, calling South Korea a "terrific ally, terrific friend."
Kirby also highlighted President Yoon's upcoming state visit to the United States, during which he said Yoon and President Joe Biden will discuss a wide range of issues, including the Russian war in Ukraine.
"I have absolutely no doubt that they will talk about a range of challenges, not just in the Indo-Pacific but across Europe and in Ukraine," he told the press briefing.
Yoon is set to arrive here on Monday, becoming the first South Korean head of state to make a state visit to the U.S. since 2011. He and Biden will hold a bilateral summit on Wednesday, followed by a state dinner to be hosted by Biden later that day.
Topics for the leaders will also include North Korea's continued provocations, as well as challenges posed by China, according to Kirby.
"I know of no conversation that we ever have with our allies in the Republic of Korea where we don't talk about the threats posed by North Korea to the peninsula and to the region," he said when asked about the summit, referring to South Korea by its official name.
"And I know of no discussion that we have with those very important allies when we also (don't) talk about the challenges posed by China in the region and globally, and I fully expected that both will be will be matters of discussion," he added.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · April 21, 2023
7. S. Korean military aircraft leaves to evacuate nationals in war-torn Sudan
Excerpts:
The C-130J transport plane, carrying some 50 personnel, including security and medical staff, left for Djibouti at 4:53 p.m., as the airport in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum is currently closed.
As of Tuesday, the total number of South Koreans in Sudan stood at 25.
"While our transport aircraft and troops plan to be on standby in a U.S. military base in Djibouti and watch the situation, they will prioritize supporting the evacuation," the ministry said in a statement.
(3rd LD) S. Korean military aircraft leaves to evacuate nationals in war-torn Sudan | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · April 21, 2023
(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean military aircraft departed Friday to evacuate its nationals in war-torn Sudan, the defense ministry said, as the fighting between rival forces in the African nation intensified.
The C-130J transport plane, carrying some 50 personnel, including security and medical staff, left for Djibouti at 4:53 p.m., as the airport in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum is currently closed.
As of Tuesday, the total number of South Koreans in Sudan stood at 25.
"While our transport aircraft and troops plan to be on standby in a U.S. military base in Djibouti and watch the situation, they will prioritize supporting the evacuation," the ministry said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered swift measures to protect South Koreans in the country, including the dispatch of military aircraft.
Seoul's foreign ministry also said it has decided to raise the travel alert for Sudan to Level 4, the highest in the government's four-tier travel advisory system.
Clashes between Sudan's military and a rival paramiltiary force erupted last Saturday, resulting in nearly 200 deaths, according to media reports.
S.Korea to send military aircraft to evacuate nationals in war-torn Sudan
Youtube
https://youtu.be/pSnB7ToXNGY
This file photo, taken Jan. 31, 2023, shows the exterior of the defense ministry. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · April 21, 2023
8. Korea to receive new shells in return for 'old shells' loaned to US
I'm sure there will be a remark in the Summit next week about Korea's partnership in the Arsenal of Democracy.
Korea to receive new shells in return for 'old shells' loaned to US
donga.com
Posted April. 21, 2023 07:51,
Updated April. 21, 2023 07:51
Korea to receive new shells in return for 'old shells' loaned to US. April. 21, 2023 07:51. by Hyo-Ju Son, Kyu-Jin Shin hjson@donga.com,newjin@donga.com.
It has been confirmed that the contract for the U.S. Army to lease about 500,000 rounds of 155mm shells from the South Korean army was signed under the terms that the U.S. government pay off its "shell debt" by sending the South Korean military new shells it would purchase from a South Korean shell manufacturer.
According to a government source on Thursday, the South Korean government recently signed a contract with the US government to lend around 500,000 rounds of shells owned by the South Korean military, including 155mm shells, and specified the repayment method. Accordingly, upon production of shells by a Korean company, the U.S. government will purchase them and give them to the South Korean military, replenishing the shell stockpiles of the Korean military. “It is the ideal contract in terms of economic benefits because we are sending old shells to the U.S. military, and we will get back new shells produced by a domestic shell manufacturer,” the source said. “Because we will receive new ones in return for leasing old ones, the returning volume will not be the same.”
Observations are made that the U.S. may use Korean shells indirectly to support Ukraine since it is not repaid by returning shells borrowed from South Korea as they are.
Meanwhile, Russia raised its threat level after President Yoon Suk Yeol hinted at the possible "conditional" military aid on the premise of Russia's genocide of Ukrainian civilians. According to Russia's Sputnik news agency on Thursday (local time), the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a bluff, saying, “Any arms provision to Ukraine will be regarded as an act of anti-Russian hostilities.” On the other hand, the US Department of Defense said, “We welcome South Korea’s contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG).”
A senior official in the presidential office responded to Russia's backlash, by saying, "It's like commenting on something that hasn't happened yet. What we do depends on what Russia will do in the future.” “There is no legal provision in our constitution that prohibits arms support for foreign countries involved in arms conflict,” the official added. This remark hinted at the possibility of military aid in the event of a mass civilian casualty that would infuriate the international community.
한국어
donga.com
9. Videos of Korean war heroes to be aired on Times Square
A wonderful tribute.
As I have written before, Korea and its MInistry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs do so much to recognize and honor the veterans of the nations who sent their troops to help defend Korea's freedom. I know of no other country that does so much for its foreign veterans.
Photos at the link,
Videos of Korean war heroes to be aired on Times Square
https://www.donga.com/en/home/article/all/20230421/4103521/1
Posted April. 21, 2023 07:50,
Updated April. 21, 2023 07:50
With President Yoon’s state visit to the U.S. ahead, a video honoring ten notable U.S. and South Korean veterans of the Korean War will be aired on two electric billboards run by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics in New York’s Times Square from April 20 through May 3, 680 times a day.
Created by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the 30-second video consists of pictures of 10 Korean War heroes in South Korea and the U.S. and messages of gratitude. The 10 war heroes were jointly selected by the Ministry and the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance.
The names included in the list are as follows: General Douglas MacArthur, the inaugural commander of the UN Forces; General James Van Fleet, who served as the commander of the Eighth Army in Korea, and his son Air Force Captain James Van Fleet Jr., who went missing while on a mission; Military chaplain William Earn Shaw and his son Navy Lieutenant William Hamilton Shaw, who died in the battle of Seoul.
Air Force Col. Dean Hess, who helped airlift around 1,000 war orphans to safety in Jeju Island, Army Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor in the ROK-U.S. Summit in May 2021, and Korean-American Army Col. Kim Young-oak, who fought in World War II and the Korean War also made the list.
The South Korean veterans who made the list include: Gen. Paik Sun-yup, the commander of the First Division and the hero of Dabu-dong Battle, Air Force Gen. Kim Doo-man, the armed service’s first pilot to achieve 100 sorties, Army Col. Kim Dong-seok, who provided critical information about the North Korean military to the UN forces for the operation to recapture Seoul, and Marine Corps Col. Park Jung-mo, who became the first person to raise the Korean flag on the rooftop of the government complex in the Seoul Recapturing Operation.
The video contains a message that expresses gratitude for the sacrifices made by the veterans from across the world, by which the Korean people could now enjoy freedom, prosperity, and peace. “Korea will forever remember your dedication and devotion,” the video says.
Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com
10. Samsung, LG unveil videos dedicated to Korean War veterans at Times Square
The graphic is at the link. https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/04/356_349445.html
Samsung, LG unveil videos dedicated to Korean War veterans at Times Square
2023-04-20 15:02 | Companies
This image shows 10 Korean War heroes jointly selected by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance. From the top, inside the number one, are Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr., Gen. James Alward Van Fleet and his son Air Force Capt. James Alward Van Fleet Jr., while from the top left counterclockwise, inside the zero, are Air Force Col. Dean Elmer Hess, military chaplain William Earn Shaw and his son Navy Lt. William Hamilton Shaw, Gen. Paik Sun-yup, Army Col. Kim Dong-seok, Air Force Gen. Kim Doo-man, Korean American Army Col. Kim Young-oak and Marine Corps Col. Park-Jung-mo. A video featuring the heroes will be aired on two electronic billboards in New York's Times Square from Thursday to May 3 (local time). Courtesy of Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
11. Yoon bets on strengthening ties with democratic allies
There is no situation more illustrative of the Korea adage that it is a shrimp among whales. And Korea's fear is that when whales wrestle, shrimp die.
One way to provide confidence in extended deterrence will be to help defend the ROK against Chinese and Russian political and economic warfare. We did not do good job helping the ROK defend against Chinese economic warfare over the THAAD issue, We must do better this time when the ROK is threatened by the Chinese over its displeasure with the ROK siding with like minded democracies and helping to defend the international rules based order.
Yoon bets on strengthening ties with democratic allies
The Korea Times · by 2023-04-21 14:17 | World · April 21, 2023
President Yoon Suk Yeol walks with U.S. President Joe Biden for their state dinner at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul in this May 21, 2022 photo. AP-Yonhap
Experts urge president to tread carefully as China, Russia warn of consequences
By Jung Min-ho
Tensions are mounting between South Korea and its two powerful neighbors ― China and Russia ― as Seoul has become ever more vocal about some of their most sensitive issues, under President Yoon Suk Yeol.
As South Korea's diplomatic tilt toward its democratic allies has become increasingly evident, experts are urging the president to tread carefully to avoid upsetting the security dynamics in the region where Seoul shares key interests with both Beijing and Moscow.
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang issued a warning, Friday, in a statement apparently aimed at Yoon's recent remarks on Taiwan, an island China claims as its own.
"Recently, there has been some absurd rhetoric accusing China of unilaterally changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, through force or coercion, and of disrupting peace and stability across the Strait," Qin told the audience at a forum in Shanghai. "The logic is absurd and the consequences dangerous … Those who play with fire on Taiwan will eventually get themselves burned."
This comes two days after Yoon stated his stance on Taiwan during a media interview that he "opposes attempts to change the status quo by force." The next day, Seoul and Beijing traded barbs over the issue, lodging an official complaint with each other's ambassador.
China FM warns of 'dangerous consequences' of Taiwan criticism
In that interview, Yoon also suggested South Korea's possible military support of Ukraine's war effort against the Russian invaders. When threatened by Russia that it could send advanced weapons to North Korea, Seoul doubled down on that bold message by saying its next move "depends on Russia."
Yoon's interview comments and such tougher-than-usual diplomatic responses are perhaps part of his broad strategy ahead of his summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on April 26 and the G7 meeting in Japan next month, said Kang Joon-young, an expert on China at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
"The administration appears to think that strengthening ties with democratic allies such as the U.S., even at the expense of weakening relations with China, is in our national interest," the professor said. "They could be right. But positioning our country as a spearheading member of ― rather than just among ― the pack defending certain values carry many risks.
"There should be a careful coordination over who speaks on what issues in which tones. At a time when China is stepping up efforts to make friends across the world, we do not have to make it an enemy, given the great security and economic interest in the country," he said.
A protester with a banner showing an image of President Yoon Suk Yeol leading a rally near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Friday, to denounce the policies of the United States and South Korea on North Korea. AP-Yonhap
Meanwhile, Yoon's unambiguous stances have been welcomed by Washington. John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, called Seoul a "terrific ally, terrific friend" and said the U.S. takes the two countries' alliance "very, very seriously."
The three decades of South Korea's strategic ambiguity between the one bloc represented by the U.S. and the other by China appears to have ended, perhaps permanently, said Hyun Seung-soo, an expert on Russia at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a think tank.
"India and several Southeast Asian countries have struck a good balance between the West and Russia while taking benefits from both sides. Can today's South Korea do the same? I do not think so, given North Korea's growing nuclear threat and South Korea's defense alliance with the U.S.," Hyun said.
"But of course, there are many geopolitical risks that need to be managed carefully, such as South Korean businesses operating in Russia and North Korea reinforcing its military ties to Russia and possibly China … But I think, even after the end of the conflict in Ukraine, it would be difficult to restore South Korea-Russia business relations to pre-war levels."
Yet most in the liberal political camp believe that South Korea should maintain that strategic balance. Since the revelation of Yoon's interview, they have criticized him in a unified voice. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, called on the president to retract his remarks on Ukraine and Taiwan.
"Our people and companies could suffer tremendous damage ― incomparably more than they did during [China's] THAAD revenge," he said in a press conference, Friday. "Friendly relations with China and Russia, which would be essential for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and our national interest, should not be harmed."
The Korea Times · by 2023-04-21 14:17 | World · April 21, 2023
12. S. Korea’s dilemma on military aid for Ukraine
S. Korea’s dilemma on military aid for Ukraine
donga.com
Posted April. 21, 2023 07:49,
Updated April. 21, 2023 07:49
S. Korea’s dilemma on military aid for Ukraine. April. 21, 2023 07:49. .
As for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s remarks about the possibility of military support to Ukraine, a senior official at the presidential office said yesterday, “It is common sense and theoretical answer. But our next move will depend on how Russia behaves.” The official also added that there is no term in South Korea’s domestic laws or foreign ministry directives that bans military assistance to belligerents or third countries. The comment leaves open the possibility that the government’s “no weapons of mass destruction” policy could change going forward, despite strong backlash from Russia.
As the presidential office explained, President Yoon’s statement was common sense and theoretical. However, whether it was necessary to make such remarks on a sensitive issue that will have a significant impact on our foreign relations is another matter. Although Yoon used the hypothetical phrase “in the event of a large-scale attack on civilians, genocide, or grave violations of the law of war,” even the most theoretical statements should have been cautiously filtered in a diplomatic setting where every word is closely interpreted.
It is unlikely that Yoon made the statement without realizing the ramifications it would bring. The presidential office as well as government officials highlight that the remarks were not made without planning. However, it is doubtful that the president fully understood the magnitude and impact of his words. Russia immediately responded by regarding Yoon’s comment as “a reflection of hostilities against Russia.” Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, played the card of military aid to North Korea, saying that he wonders how South Korea will react if Russia’s latest weapons are in the hands of North Korea.
So far, the government has been providing humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine but refused to provide weapons of mass destruction, given Russia’s influence over North Korea and for the sake of the safety of Korean companies and people in Russia. The government has been under intense pressure from the U.S. and NATO, and Russia has warned South Korea of a “breakdown in relations.” As a desperate effort, the government even resorted to “bypass support” by signing a deal with the U.S. to export or lend 155-millimeter artillery shells to fill the U.S. empty arsenal.
The government’s decision to open the possibility of direct assistance seems to be related to President Yoon’s state visit to the U.S., which is just days away. Ukraine will also be on the agenda at the South Korea-U.S. summit. It is true that South Korea’s contribution is essential to strengthening the extended deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear threat, but the government should be level-headed for national interest when judging if it should be at the expense of Korea-Russia relations. Global universal values and contributions as an ally are important, but none of them can come before the safety of our citizens and businesses.
한국어
donga.com
13. [INTERVIEW] Moon calls for new paradigm for peace on Korean Peninsula
Excerpts:
Stressing that diplomatic initiatives, bilateral talks and summits aimed at resolving security concerns surrounding North Korea's nuclear weapons program have led to no progress, Moon called for a new paradigm in the Korean Peninsula to unify the two Koreas.
The activist believes that real progress will only be made when it is driven by ordinary people. After establishing the GPF in 2009, he has been campaigning for unification based on the founding ideal of Korea "Hongik Ingan," which means "to live for the greater benefit of all mankind."
Moon explained that major successful movements in Korean history such as the March 1 Independence Movement of 1919 and democracy rallies in the 1980s have come from the bottom up.
"Remember, nobody believed that the Berlin Wall would come down in 1990. Nobody believed that the Soviet Union would be dismantled. And that shows how a vision and idea rooted in high moral principles can really change the world."
[INTERVIEW] Moon calls for new paradigm for peace on Korean Peninsula
The Korea Times · April 20, 2023
Hyunjin Preston Moon, the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), speaks during a joint interview with Korean media outlets at a hotel in New Delhi, India, April 13. Courtesy of GPF
Global Peace Foundation aims to gather 10 million people's support for Korean unification by 2025
By Lee Hyo-jin
NEW DELHI, India ― In the last few decades, South Korea and its neighboring countries have engaged in various diplomatic efforts to make North Korea abandon its nuclear ambitions, which threaten the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the international community.
Under such efforts, numerous talks were held both at bilateral and multilateral levels. Some noteworthy agreements, such as the 2018 Pyongyang Joint Declaration, seemed to bring the two Koreas closer to achieving peace.
Nevertheless, to this day, Pyongyang still shows no signs of giving up its nuclear arms, in what it calls "self-defense" capabilities. In recent months, the reclusive regime has been ratcheting up tensions on the peninsula through a barrage of missile tests as well as verbal provocations toward Seoul and Washington.
Given the situation, Hyunjin Preston Moon, the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), a Washington D.C.-based non-governmental organization, calls for a paradigm shift in inter-Korean policies, arguing that government-led approaches have not led to any fruitful results ― and they never will.
"In terms of missile shooting (by North Korea), there is nothing anybody can do. The South Korean government can't do anything. The U.S. government can't do anything about it," he said during a joint interview with Korean media outlets in New Delhi, India, April 13.
The North shows a pattern of scaling up military provocations while a conservative administration is in power in South Korea, and once a liberal administration comes in, the two nations talk, Moon said.
"But are the talks real? Do they lead to anything fruitful?" he asked, mentioning that even after former president Kim Dae-jung, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his Sunshine Policy toward North Korea, inter-Korea relations eventually got worse.
Stressing that diplomatic initiatives, bilateral talks and summits aimed at resolving security concerns surrounding North Korea's nuclear weapons program have led to no progress, Moon called for a new paradigm in the Korean Peninsula to unify the two Koreas.
The activist believes that real progress will only be made when it is driven by ordinary people. After establishing the GPF in 2009, he has been campaigning for unification based on the founding ideal of Korea "Hongik Ingan," which means "to live for the greater benefit of all mankind."
Moon explained that major successful movements in Korean history such as the March 1 Independence Movement of 1919 and democracy rallies in the 1980s have come from the bottom up.
"Remember, nobody believed that the Berlin Wall would come down in 1990. Nobody believed that the Soviet Union would be dismantled. And that shows how a vision and idea rooted in high moral principles can really change the world."
Participants of the Global Peace Leadership Conference hosted by the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) hold banners reading "global peace" during the event held at a hotel in New Delhi, India, April 12. Courtesy of GPF
During the interview, which was held on the sidelines of the Global Peace Leadership Conference hosted by the GPF in New Delhi, Moon highlighted the significance of partnerships with India in his peacebuilding activities.
"India is going to be hosting G20. It is also going to be hosting the C20 as well, which is a civic initiative. These are very aligned with what I'm planning to do over the next three years in Korea," he said.
"Also, India has a good relationship with both South and North Korea. It is the largest nation that has embassies in both the North and South. So the fact that we are holding the event here is of very great significance for them, too."
He went on to say one of the goals of hosting the conference in India was to raise global awareness of the GPF's grand project of gathering 10 million people so as to support unification by 2025.
In February this year, his foundation held a so-called 10 million People's Korean Dream Rally for the 80th Anniversary of Korean Liberation, to gather 10 million people in Korea and overseas by 2025 who support unification. The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, which ended in 1945.
In order to achieve his goal, Moon said he will focus on empowering the younger generations.
"The youth of Korea has been misled in terms of unification. Many of them believe that the cost of unification will be exorbitant and that they will bear the cost. But the opposite of all that is true," he said.
According to Moon, the southern influx of North Korea's population, a vast majority of whom are young people, will help resolve South Korea's shrinking youth demographic and aging society, while the North will be able to benefit from the South's economy and infrastructure.
When asked what makes him stay motivated as a leader of a major global organization, Moon replied, "seeking the truth and being honest."
"What I keep on emphasizing is that dreamers are the ones that change the world. We all have to be a person who believes in truth, has conviction and shows moral courage," he said.
The Korea Times · April 20, 2023
14. [ANALYSIS] Yoon asked to focus on key economic issues at summit with Biden
There will have to be a balance between security and economic issues.
[ANALYSIS] Yoon asked to focus on key economic issues at summit with Biden
The Korea Times · April 20, 2023
This combination of two file photos shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, May 10, 2022, and U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C., May 15, 2022. Leaked U.S. intelligence documents suggesting that Washington spied on South Korea have put the country's president in a delicate situation ahead of a state visit to the U.S. AP-Yonhap
US visit won't fundamentally change Yoon's approval rating: Washington experts
By Kim Yoo-chul
Maintaining a solid job approval rating is of utmost importance to any state leader. Public backing offers leaders the expanded political space and capital needed to drive their strategic policy initiatives.
It is not always true to say that a state leader's low job approval rating should constrain their ability to move forward with foreign policy objectives, but when it comes to relations with the U.S., Japan and North Korea, there is a very high degree of domestic political polarization.
Within that context, if President Yoon Suk Yeol's job approval rating remains consistently low, his administration and foreign policy teams could become much more cautious in managing some of the pending diplomatic challenges that are domestically sensitive.
According to a Gallup Korea poll released on April 14, 65 percent of respondents said they disapproved of Yoon's job performance with only 27 percent approving. It is the first time Yoon's job performance has fallen below 30 percent since the third week of November last year.
The pollster said Yoon's ratings on foreign affairs and the economy were particularly weak and also the core factors behind the decline of his job rating. It presumed that the U.S.' alleged spying on the country, which was shown in leaked Pentagon documents, appeared to have led to the drop of Yoon's job rating.
"Because the country's main ruling and opposition parties will have to move to general election mode, which will happen next April 10, Yoon and his ruling party should focus on finding how he's perceived to better manage foreign affairs and various other economic issues. From this standpoint, President Yoon is asked to report visible achievements in his summit with Biden," Park Sang-byung, a political commentator in Seoul, said. Yoon will leave for a state visit to the U.S. later this month, the first such visit by a South Korean leader in 12 years.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has 169 Assembly seats followed by the ruling People Power Party (PPP) with 115 seats. The DPK's popularity rating came to 36 percent, followed by the PPP with 31 percent, the Gallup poll showed. The U.S.-South Korea summit is considered crucial to winning Washington's expanded security commitment amid increasing North Korean nuclear threats and in terms of addressing South Korea's concerns over the Biden administration's tech and economic policies after the U.S. launched the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and CHIPS and Science Act.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden prepare for a toast during a state dinner at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, May 21, 2022. AP-Yonhap
Despite the presidential office downplaying the significance of leaked U.S. intelligence documents, which are said to have included sensitive talks between high-level South Korean officials on whether to sell weapons directly to Ukraine, political experts in Seoul say Yoon is now in a difficult situation ahead of his visit to the U.S.
"President Yoon has to raise South Korea's complaint about the leak of classified Pentagon papers when he meets Biden as Yoon's approval rating could go down further if he fails to touch this issue," a three-term DPK lawmaker told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity.
High pressure but no high expectations
The question is whether Yoon's state visit to the U.S. will eventually help improve his job approval rating while he is facing growing political pressure related to issues over the IRA, evolving nuclear threats by North Korea and historical conflicts with Japan, in addition to the leaked Pentagon documents.
Political analysts say in his summit with Biden, Yoon is advised to focus on setting key deliverables that would satisfy the South Korean public to avoid further harm to the South Korean leader's approval rating.
The invitation Yoon received for a state visit is part of Biden's efforts to keep the U.S.' relationships with key Asian allies strong as a means to counter China's growing economic and military presence, in addition to North Korea's continued military provocations. As a result, Yoon is ideally positioned to report actual achievements in his summit with Biden, according to an aide to former President Moon Jae-in.
"Given the South Korean public's increased awareness toward economic issues, if there is some progress in addressing key South Korean companies' concerns regarding the IRA and CHIPS Act, then I would say this may lead to an improvement of President Yoon's approval rating," the former presidential aide said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visits LG Display's manufacturing base in Guangzhou in China's Guangdong province, April 12. Xinhua-Yonhap
The baseline is that while Yoon is surely mindful of his approval rating, his state visit to Washington is much more significant than that because he and Biden are set to reaffirm the value of the alliance on its 70th anniversary, according to leading think tanks in Washington.
"I doubt that President Yoon's meetings in Washington will fundamentally change his approval rating. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had similar hopes for his visit a few months ago, but that didn't really alter his polls either," Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute where he studies U.S.' strategy and alliance dynamics in Asia, told The Korea Times.
Cooper, who previously worked on the White House National Security Council, said that he suspects Yoon and Biden will demonstrate the closeness of the alliance by announcing new cooperation on extended deterrence and supply chain issues, among others.
In a separate call, Joshua Fitt, a fellow for the Indo-Pacific Security Program at CNAS who also focuses on Washington's strategy in East Asia and specializes in Japanese and Korean Peninsula affairs, added one thing, in particular, to look out for is any mention of South Korea's involvement in the quadrilateral security dialogue, known as Quad.
"The joint statement from their (Yoon-Biden) May 2022 summit mentions that Biden welcomes Yoon's interest in the Quad but it will be interesting to see whether the conversation has progressed," Fitt said, adding he expects the upcoming summit will present a unified message on North Korea, South Korea-Japan rapprochement, rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and other critical alliance synergies.
Both Cooper and Fitt stressed the document issue will have a minimal effect on the Yoon-Biden summit as it has been reported that the two sides have already engaged in considerable discussion on the topic.
"I do think the document issue will be an irritant, but mostly behind closed doors rather than in public," Cooper said. "Since the scope of the U.S.-South Korea is so vast and state visit agendas are so tight, any time spent talking about the leaks takes away from more important, forward-looking topics. Similarly, Biden did not discuss them when meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast," Fitt said.
Heads of South Korean corporate giants including Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Chung Euisun and LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo are set to join Yoon on his visit to the U.S. Announcements regarding South Korean companies' expanded cooperation with U.S. companies in the fields of electric batteries, semiconductors, future vehicles and bio equipment will be made during or after Yoon's trip to the U.S., company officials said.
The Korea Times · April 20, 2023
15. Kim Jong-un takes his daughter to work again for space headquarters visit
Photos at the link: https://metro.co.uk/2023/04/19/kim-jong-un-takes-daughter-to-work-again-for-space-headquarters-visit-18636748/
Kim Jong-un takes his daughter to work again for space headquarters visit
MetroUK · by Ben Ashton · April 19, 2023
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un visited the National Aerospace Development Administration with his daughter (Picture: Getty Images)
Kim Jong-un has continued to put his daughter in the spotlight after bringing her along for a visit to North Korea’s space station.
The dictator’s child, Kim Ju-ae, was by his side as they were pictured being shown around different areas of the country’s space headquarters.
Dressed in a pinstripe suit, it might not have been as striking as the Tom Cruise in Top Gun look he has previously opted for, but Kim Jong-un was seen talking to officials who were taking notes as he smoked.
He even seemed to have time for a quick laugh and a joke as his daughter watched on.
It’s not the first time the 11-year-old has been centre stage in recent months, with the pair showing up together more frequently for events and duties.
Father-daughter time has been a regular fixture as they were both spotted watching a special anniversary football match in images released yesterday.
Kim Ju-ae, 11, was by her dad’s side for the space station visit (Picture: Getty Images)
Kim Jong-un appears to be laughing as he talks with officials (Picture: Getty Images)
Just last week, the whole family came together to watch the test of North Korea’s ‘most powerful missile yet’.
Meanwhile, Kim Ju-ae was pictured sitting next to her dad to observe the army simulating an attack on an unspecified South Korean airfield in March.
Speculation has continued over whether she is being prepared to succeed her father as the country’s next dictator in future.
Kim Ju-ae has been appearing alongside her father frequently at events (Picture: Getty Images)
Kim Jong-un was pictured smoking on his visit as his daughter observed (Picture: AP)
And this latest stop off at the National Aerospace Development Administration will have done little to quell those theories.
During the visit, Kim Jong-un said North Korea has completed the development of its first military spy satellite, according to state media reports today.
Officials have been ordered to go ahead with the launch as planned by Kim Jong-un, who said developing reconnaissance is part of the nation’s efforts to counter ‘serious security threats’ from the US and South Korea.
He said several satellites would be necessary to establish North Korea’s intelligence-gathering capability and urged the deployments to go ahead but has not yet confirmed a launch date, reports Al Jazeera.
North Korea carried out a ‘final phase’ test for a spy satellite in December 2022 and said it would complete preparations for the launch by the end of this month.
Kim Jong-un said at the time: ‘Securing real-time information about the hostile forces’ military scenario is the most important task.’
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MetroUK · by Ben Ashton · April 19, 2023
16. How to Prepare for the Future After Seven Decades of the U.S.-South Korea Alliance
Excerpts:
During the summit, Presidents Biden and Yoon are expected to pledge to deepen extended deterrence in response to North Korea’s growing nuclear threat; enhance coordinated actions on intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, and space cooperation; and possibly expand joint efforts to promote clean power production through electric battery manufacturing, nuclear energy cooperation, and research on hydrogen fuel cells.
Past anniversaries have highlighted an alliance “forged in blood” that resulted from the U.S. decision to defend South Korea from communist aggression. While the threat from North Korea remains and concerns about China’s future have deepened U.S.-South Korea cohesion, the sustainability of the alliance will depend both on shared democratic values and on convergent economic interests that enable deeper integration of supply chains and technology.
How to Prepare for the Future After Seven Decades of the U.S.-South Korea Alliance
cfr.org · by Scott A. Snyder
The United States and South Korea are marking their seventy-year alliance with a state visit amid tighter defense collaboration. But the alliance “forged in blood” should now evolve to be powered by chips, batteries, and clean technology.
The United States is rolling out the red carpet on April 26 and 27 for South Korea’s pro-American President Yoon Suk-yeol, the Joe Biden administration’s second state visitor and the first South Korean president to address a joint meeting of Congress in a decade. Their commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance is meant to showcase its resiliency, but sustaining it will require new efforts to deepen trust.
Yoon has taken a series of significant steps to demonstrate his fidelity to Washington, including aligning with the United States on policy toward China by moving high-tech supply chains and production to the United States. In addition, Yoon has pursued improved relations with Tokyo, a move welcomed by Washington as it tries to shore up trilateral U.S.-Japan-South Korea cooperation. But despite high levels of South Korean support for the alliance with the United States, Yoon’s public approval ratings [article in Korean] have stagnated in the low 30 percent range.
U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speak during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Trust and Deterrence
At the same time, questions about U.S. trustworthiness have been highlighted in Korean media in recent weeks by revelations that the United States monitored telephone deliberations between senior officials in the Yoon administration about U.S. requests that South Korea provide ammunitions to Ukraine despite domestic laws prohibiting directly supplying munitions for an active war effort. The content of the private communications was less damaging than the revelation that the United States was spying on a close ally.
The surveillance incident points to much deeper questions about U.S. reliability that Koreans are debating on both the security and economic dimensions of the alliance. The credibility of Biden’s personal assurances to Yoon at the upcoming summit will be critical to sustaining Korean confidence in the durability and depth of alliance coordination. However, the South Korean public is likely to look past the pomp and circumstance surrounding the visit to assess the United States’ credibility and commitment to South Korea.
On the security front, South Koreans increasingly see no viable pathway to North Korea’s denuclearization and have taken note of threats by an aggressive North Korean leadership to use nuclear weapons against the South. These threats have fueled a public debate over whether South Korea should negate North Korea’s advantage by attaining its own nuclear weapons, or whether South Korea can rely on U.S. pledges to defend it from attack. While the U.S. and South Korean governments are deepening nuclear planning coordination, including through exercises to forge responses to various nuclear use scenarios, the sustainability of the alliance will depend in part on how South Koreans assess the U.S. president’s political will to defend South Korea from a North Korean nuclear attack.
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On the economic side, South Korean conglomerates have made major investments in the U.S. semiconductor and electric vehicle sectors, part of an effort to deepen economic integration and reduce the vulnerability of U.S. and South Korean supply chains to economic retaliation from China. But South Korean firms are also contending with provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act, both of which the United States passed in 2022, that are perceived as disadvantageous for Korean firms, even though separate, multibillion-dollar investment commitments will allow the firms to build new factories in the United States.
Some South Korean firms, such as Samsung and SK Hynix, are also contending with new restrictions on exports to China that put at risk their ability to profit from legacy factory production based there. The Biden administration will need to find ways to reassure South Korean investors that they will face a level playing field and have opportunities to earn returns on U.S. investments.
Forging Democratic Bonds
During his visit to Washington, Yoon will have extensive opportunities to explain to Americans the value and importance of U.S. cooperation with South Korea. Yoon’s address to a joint meeting of Congress will provide him with an opportunity to explain to lawmakers and the American people his own commitment to freedom, his dedication to upholding democratic values, and what South Korea’s aspirations to become a “global pivotal state” mean for its alliance with the United States.
During the summit, Presidents Biden and Yoon are expected to pledge to deepen extended deterrence in response to North Korea’s growing nuclear threat; enhance coordinated actions on intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, and space cooperation; and possibly expand joint efforts to promote clean power production through electric battery manufacturing, nuclear energy cooperation, and research on hydrogen fuel cells.
Past anniversaries have highlighted an alliance “forged in blood” that resulted from the U.S. decision to defend South Korea from communist aggression. While the threat from North Korea remains and concerns about China’s future have deepened U.S.-South Korea cohesion, the sustainability of the alliance will depend both on shared democratic values and on convergent economic interests that enable deeper integration of supply chains and technology.
cfr.org · by Scott A. Snyder
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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