'US waits for next South Korean government over China issue'

By Kang Seung-woo

Unusual meetings scheduled for the U.S. diplomat in charge of East Asia policy and the presidential candidates of South Korea's two main political parties are offering a hint that the Joe Biden administration is waiting for the next government to be installed here before discussing bilateral issues, including containing China.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Kritenbrink, who arrives in Seoul Wednesday, will have separate talks with Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, and Yoon Seok-youl of the main opposition People Power Party, Thursday and Friday, respectively, according to the parties.

Along with the meetings, the American diplomat will also meet with his South Korean counterpart and other senior officials here to discuss North Korea and other regional issues.

Although it is not known yet why Kritenbrink is seeking to meet the presidential candidates, it is regarded as quite exceptional for a U.S. official to meet the candidates openly, given that six months are still left in the Moon Jae-in administration's term, which will end in May next year, according to diplomatic observers.

“As Kritenbrink is a key figure in the Biden administration regarding regional matters, his meetings with the presidential candidates, with Moon still remaining in office, indicates the U.S. policy direction is to prepare for the next South Korean government, while seeking to maintain the status quo with the current administration,” said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.

Park said Kritenbrink was seeking to meet the candidates even though the U.S. was well aware of how the event will be interpreted.

“The assistant secretary is a China expert and the Biden administration's priority is to curb China's global influence, but the current South Korean government is not actively engaged in the U.S.-led anti-China alliance. In that sense, the meetings between Kritenbrink and the presidential candidates are delivering a message that the U.S. cares about who will be in power here during its campaign against Beijing,” he said.

Ahead of the presidential election in 2017, Joseph Yun, then U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, visited Seoul and held back-to-back talks with then presidential hopefuls or their aides.

However, things are currently different from four years ago, Park noted.

“At the time, South Korea was embroiled in an impeachment saga, while North Korea was staging a series of provocative actions. But currently, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is being managed stably,” he said.

Although North Korea has test-fired newly developed missiles since September, it is not expected to “act out of line” by launching an intercontinental ballistic missile.

“In addition, Yun was an official in charge of North Korea issues, but Kritenbrink's main job is to contain China, so coming here to meet the presidential candidates is exceptional,” Park added.

Along with the China issue, the allies have differing views on declaring a formal end to the Korean War, which was proposed by President Moon in September.