It's time to hurry to map out countermeasures
Billionaire Donald Trump has become the de facto Republican presidential nominee after his sweeping victory in Indiana's primary pushed the remaining challengers out of the race.
Trump has repeatedly created a stir with his provocative remarks and radical promises. But he is looking to enter the White House after a roaring ride. Now the American presidential race will most likely be between the real estate mogul and probable Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Trump's nomination as the Republican candidate will bring tremendous shock and confusion to the world as well as to the U.S. political arena. Some critics even say that the Republican Party, one of the world's oldest parties, may be on a path to collapse.
Few expected Trump to become the GOP nominee when he declared his candidacy for the president of the world's most powerful country last June. However, he emerged as the Republican front-runner by attracting attention through his repeated controversial remarks.
His most polarizing statements have been on issues of immigration and border security. He aroused criticism by proposing to deport all illegal immigrants, build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and place a temporary ban on Muslims that are citizens in other countries entering the U.S. This has often caused the public to question how he would govern the U.S. if he becomes president.
Behind the abrupt emergence of the former TV personality is voters' fury at the political establishment and anxiety of low-income whites about the rapid growth of Hispanic communities.
It's not clear yet if Trump will become president. Last week's Rasmusen Reports national telephone survey found that Trump would beat Clinton 41 percent to 39 percent in a two-way battle. That was the first time Trump had led such a poll since last October. But a new CNN poll found Clinton leading Trump 54 percent to 41 percent.
Circumstances are unclear, but there is a growing need for Korea to hurry to map out countermeasures given that "President Trump'' might become a reality. On his campaign trail, Trump has accused Korea and Japan of getting a free ride in defense, suggesting that he would be open to withdrawing American forces if the two Asian allies are not willing to pay more to keep those forces stationed there. He even indicated that he might support Korea and Japan in developing their own nuclear weapons.
Trump also displayed his utmost protectionist fervor by hinting at the possible termination of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, which has been in effect since 2012. In his Indiana campaign, Trump even said that the U.S. cannot continue to allow China, the world's second-largest economy, to "rape'' the country with trade deficits. All this must be a headache for Korea that relies heavily on trade.
Of course, it won't be easy for him to put into practice all his nonsensical and half-baked pledges he unleashed during his campaign. Nonetheless, conditions for security and diplomacy around the Korean Peninsula may change significantly. This implies that Korea might have to endure greater costs and risks as an ally of the U.S. The Korean government needs to establish personal connections with Trump himself or some of his close aides at least.
Billionaire Donald Trump has become the de facto Republican presidential nominee after his sweeping victory in Indiana's primary pushed the remaining challengers out of the race.
Trump has repeatedly created a stir with his provocative remarks and radical promises. But he is looking to enter the White House after a roaring ride. Now the American presidential race will most likely be between the real estate mogul and probable Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Trump's nomination as the Republican candidate will bring tremendous shock and confusion to the world as well as to the U.S. political arena. Some critics even say that the Republican Party, one of the world's oldest parties, may be on a path to collapse.
Few expected Trump to become the GOP nominee when he declared his candidacy for the president of the world's most powerful country last June. However, he emerged as the Republican front-runner by attracting attention through his repeated controversial remarks.
His most polarizing statements have been on issues of immigration and border security. He aroused criticism by proposing to deport all illegal immigrants, build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and place a temporary ban on Muslims that are citizens in other countries entering the U.S. This has often caused the public to question how he would govern the U.S. if he becomes president.
Behind the abrupt emergence of the former TV personality is voters' fury at the political establishment and anxiety of low-income whites about the rapid growth of Hispanic communities.
It's not clear yet if Trump will become president. Last week's Rasmusen Reports national telephone survey found that Trump would beat Clinton 41 percent to 39 percent in a two-way battle. That was the first time Trump had led such a poll since last October. But a new CNN poll found Clinton leading Trump 54 percent to 41 percent.
Circumstances are unclear, but there is a growing need for Korea to hurry to map out countermeasures given that "President Trump'' might become a reality. On his campaign trail, Trump has accused Korea and Japan of getting a free ride in defense, suggesting that he would be open to withdrawing American forces if the two Asian allies are not willing to pay more to keep those forces stationed there. He even indicated that he might support Korea and Japan in developing their own nuclear weapons.
Trump also displayed his utmost protectionist fervor by hinting at the possible termination of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, which has been in effect since 2012. In his Indiana campaign, Trump even said that the U.S. cannot continue to allow China, the world's second-largest economy, to "rape'' the country with trade deficits. All this must be a headache for Korea that relies heavily on trade.
Of course, it won't be easy for him to put into practice all his nonsensical and half-baked pledges he unleashed during his campaign. Nonetheless, conditions for security and diplomacy around the Korean Peninsula may change significantly. This implies that Korea might have to endure greater costs and risks as an ally of the U.S. The Korean government needs to establish personal connections with Trump himself or some of his close aides at least.
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