Q/A ROK-US alliance evolves into global strategic partnership

Foreign Minister Park Jin speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

By Kang Seung-woo

• Published Feb 2, 2023 5:28 PM KST
• Updated Feb 2, 2023 7:29 PM KST

Foreign minister expects stronger bilateral ties to promote China's responsible role

By Kang Seung-woo

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance and Foreign Minister Park Jin believes that the evolving bilateral alliance is now in top form. The ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

“South Korea and the United States share a long history of cooperation based on shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which helped the alliance endure for 70 years,” Park said in an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday.

“Celebrating the 70th anniversary, I think the ROK-U.S. alliance should now go beyond solely focusing on bilateral relations between South Korea and the U.S., contributing to the freedom, peace and prosperity of the world on a regional and global level.”

He added: “I think that the alliance is now at a very important historical turning point.”

His assessment of the alliance being at an all-time high is evidenced by visits by U.S. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the third-highest ranking U.S. official, all of which were made last year.

His remarks came as South Korea and the U.S. have been upgrading their security-focused alliance into a global comprehensive strategic alliance, under which the two countries will jointly respond to various challenges to uphold the rules-based order, as agreed between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Biden during their summit last May 21.

Park, 66, said the two countries are seeking to form an “alliance in action” regarding issues of North Korea's nuclear threats and other security matters in the Indo-Pacific.

“Last year, we unveiled the details of the Indo-Pacific strategy, which focuses on fostering a rules-based international order ranging from stabilizing global supply chains to maintaining peace and stability in the region,” the minister said.

“In the era of the digital economy, South Korea will be no longer a rule follower, but a rule maker in shaping a new order with like-minded countries.”

The Indo-Pacific strategy is regarded in some circles as signaling Seoul's alignment with Washington amid an intensifying U.S.-China rivalry. But the foreign minister said China is a country that South Korea needs to strategically communicate with in terms of North Korea's nuclear issue.

“China is our biggest trading partner and it is the country that can play a constructive role in easing North Korean nuclear threats,” Park said.

“However, what is important is that China should develop a relationship with South Korea based on mutual respect. In addition, since a mature partnership between the two countries is based on China's respect for international norms and rules, we are clearly communicating this message to China and I think China is well aware of it.”

As for Japan, Park said both Seoul and Tokyo share the idea that the continuation of the current stalemate serves neither countries' interests.

Relations between the neighboring countries have plummeted to the worst level in years over the issue of Japanese companies compensating surviving South Korean victims of wartime forced labor. Since Yoon took office last May, the South Korean government has made efforts to get ties back on track.

“As South Korea is working hard to resolve the pending issue, the Japanese side also needs to show sincere responses,” Park said.

Below are excerpts from the interview with Foreign Minister Park Jin.

Q: What is your assessment of the South Korea-U.S. alliance on the occasion of its 70th anniversary this year?

A: The ROK-U.S. alliance is recognized as one of the most successful alliances in the history of the world. Looking back on the past 70 years, the two countries have maintained and strengthened the alliance ― despite the turbulent international situation ― to reach its best state ever, as evidenced by a series of visits by the top three U.S. officials ― the president, the vice president and the house speaker ― which was unprecedented compared with the past. Beyond protecting the security of the Korean Peninsula, the alliance is evolving in the face of political crises and challenges of the 21st century.

Marking the second year in office, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration has set sights on substantially developing the global comprehensive strategic alliance and to this end, President Yoon's successful visit to the U.S. would be of the utmost importance.

Q: How will South Korea expand its economic alliance with the U.S. without provoking its biggest trading partner, China?

A: Now is the era of economic security in which the boundary between security and economy has been blurred. In this situation, I think it is very natural for the ROK-U.S. alliance, which is leading core and high-tech industries while sharing values, to evolve into an economic and technological alliance.

This evolution of the bilateral alliance and the development of Korea-China relations do not contradict each other, something that the U.S. agrees with as well.

South Korea and China reached a consensus on developing a healthier and more mature relationship on the occasion of the South Korea-China summit in Bali last November. Furthermore, in order to respond to the severe situation on the Korean Peninsula and the complex challenges of the 21st century, China's active cooperation should be encouraged. I believe that a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance serves as a foundation for promoting China's responsible role and for building healthy South Korea-China relations.

The South Korean government will expand and strengthen the level of cooperation in the South Korea-U.S. alliance. As for China, we will cooperate with the country on global issues such as peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, climate change, public health and supply chains in accordance with the spirit of hwaibudong, seeking harmonious coexistence while respecting differences.

Q: South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy seeks to achieve a positive relationship with China based on the principles of inclusion and reciprocity, while the U.S. and Japan describe China as the greatest strategic challenge. Amid the growing importance of trilateral cooperation, should South Korea speak with one voice?

A: Since the launch of the Yoon administration in May 2022, three-way cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan has been strengthened and it is not intended to exclude or contain any country. There is no difference in opinion on the need to continue communication and necessary cooperation with China. It is in this context that the United States immediately sent a message of welcome to our Indo-Pacific Strategy emphasizing three principles of cooperation ― inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity. The same is true of the joint statement from the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit held in November last year, which stated that the leaders pursue a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is inclusive, resilient, and secure.

At the same time, the three countries maintain a clear position that they oppose any attempt to change the status quo unilaterally through economic coercion or force.

Q: Do you think that the U.S. should do more to provide nuclear security assurances to South Korea?

A: A strong South Korea-U.S. alliance has effectively deterred North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and the U.S. has consistently confirmed its firm extended deterrence commitment to South Korea on various occasions, including summits.

As a preliminary measure for the proper provision of the U.S. nuclear deterrence in case of emergency, including the deployment of strategic assets, the two countries are in discussion to enhance the effectiveness of extended deterrence in various fields such as information sharing, consultation process, joint planning and joint execution.

Q: Some critics say the Biden administration is not interested in the North Korean nuclear issue. What is your assessment of the U.S.' North Korean policy?

A: I do not agree with such an assessment. Since President Yoon and President Biden agreed that the North Korea nuclear threat merits their utmost attention (in May 2022), the two countries have continued watertight cooperation on the issue, shown through actions, not words. In other words, we need to create an “Alliance in Action.”

Elements of the “Alliance in Action” include the announcement of the Audacious Initiative under close coordination between South Korea and the U.S., the announcement of autonomous sanctions on North Korea between South Korea and the U.S. (October and December 2022) and the launch of the South Korea-U.S. working group on North Korea's cyber threats.

Since taking office, I have had face-to-face discussions with State Secretary Tony Blinken in Asia and Europe, and have been in close discussions on the North Korean nuclear issue through numerous phone calls.

This U.S. visit will also serve as a good opportunity to reaffirm the common goal of complete denuclearization of North Korea and to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Q: Is there any plan to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table?

A: North Korea has not responded to offers for talks by South Korea and the U.S. while continuing its nuclear and missile provocations.

Therefore, I believe that the policy direction is to create conditions in which North Korea has no choice but to return to denuclearization negotiations through a holistic approach of deterrence, dissuasion and diplomacy.

While thoroughly preparing for any possible provocation by North Korea based on the firm ROK-U.S. combined defense posture, cooperation with the international community will be strengthened so that an unprecedentedly strong response can be made to North Korea's serious provocation, such as a nuclear test. In addition, the two countries will continue to encourage China, which has influence over North Korea, towards playing a constructive role in ending North Korea's provocations and returning to dialogue.

Q: What is the South Korean government's plan for the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act that excludes Korean carmakers from tax credits?

A: The government is in negotiations with the U.S. side to reflect our requests on the proposed guidance on battery minerals and components that is expected to come in March. It is encouraging that the U.S. confirmed that leased vehicles are eligible for tax credits, allowing South Korean electric vehicles to receive benefits. I believe this was part of an effort to address the discriminatory elements in the IRA in consideration of its ally South Korea.

Q: As the South Korean government stresses the importance of trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, Seoul is making efforts to improve ties with Tokyo. However, some argue that South Korea is too obsessed with bettering Korea-Japan relations. What is your opinion?

A: I cannot agree with the claim. As for the issue of wartime forced labor, a major sticking point in the bilateral relations, many of the elderly victims passed away and its fallout negatively affects various areas, including Japan's export regulations on South Korea. In that sense, the government feels the need to come up with a reasonable solution as soon as possible.

On the other hand, we have lost opportunities for strategic cooperation to respond to Korean Peninsula, regional and global issues due to the frayed ties. Under the rapidly changing international situation, it is a very important task to improve relations with Japan, a neighboring country that shares universal values, and to build a future-oriented partnership.

Since its inauguration, the government has made efforts to restore trust between the two countries and create a favorable environment and momentum for resolving pending issues and improving relations. As a result, active high-level exchanges took place between the two countries, including two summits and a foreign minister's visit to Japan, which provided a turning point for resolving pending issues and improving relations.

Q: In the wake of China's decision to suspend issuing short-term visas for South Koreans, there is speculation that it is the result of accumulated dissatisfaction with the Yoon administration's pro-U.S. foreign policy. What is your opinion?

A: We have been stably managing and developing bilateral relations under the consensus of developing a healthier and more mature Korea-China relationship based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, and common interests.

However, I know that many countries have implemented quarantine measures out of concern about the spread of Coronavirus before and after China eased its “zero-COVID” restrictions.

The government actively explained its position to China that our quarantine measures were based on scientific grounds, while emphasizing that there should be no entry restrictions based on factors other than COVID-19 quarantine.