ED North Korea's omission
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting on the south side of the Military Demarcation Line that divides North and South Korea, in the Joint Security Area of Panmunjeom in this file photo from June 30, 2019. AFP-Yonhap
Trump's new National Security Strategy paper compels Seoul to adjust its strategy as well
The denuclearization of North Korea is conspicuously absent from the U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS), a key White House security document released by the Trump administration on Dec. 5.
The document sent a loud message to South Korea by omitting any mention of support for the denuclearization of North Korea, something that had been part of previous similar documents going back to the 1990s.
The omission marks a departure from earlier U.S. administration policies, including Trump's first presidency. The Biden administration noted support for extended deterrence for the “visible progress toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," while the Trump administration's 2017 paper mentioned North Korea more than a dozen times and recognized its nuclear weapons program as a "threat."
The NSS document raises concerns that the U.S. may be looking to acknowledge Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal, a move that could seriously undermine safety on the Korean Peninsula. Trump referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power" in October on his way to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, jolting South Korean and other regional observers.
Further fueling the concern is that China's most recent defense white papers, released in November, also omitted some expected statements regarding North Korea. Gone was the clear declaration of China's support for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula that had appeared for the past nearly 20 years. Instead, it noted, "China adopts an impartial stance and adheres to the right approach of always working for the peace, stability and prosperity of the peninsula and the resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue through political means."
Whether tacit approval of or strategic ambiguity around the issue of denuclearization, as the U.S. continues its "America First" policy and China crafts its own response, Seoul will have to work aggressively through diplomatic channels. What is evident is that South Korea is being called on to do more to deter North Korea and shoulder a heavier burden to keep the peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
The new NSS paper clearly advocates for changes to the status quo, particularly for sharing responsibility and costs when it comes to mounting a robust defense of America's regional allies, including Taiwan. "Given President Trump's insistence on increased burden-sharing from Japan and South Korea, we must urge these countries to increase defense spending, with a focus on the capabilities — including new capabilities — necessary to deter adversaries and protect the First Island Chain," the NSS reads, referring to a string of islands including Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines that are considered vital to regional security interests.
South Korea is a nation long accustomed to adapting quickly to shifting geopolitical interests. But the sudden omissions come across as a stark reminder that the winds of change show no mercy. It may well be time for Seoul to pursue President Lee Jae Myung's "self-reliant national defense" by upgrading defense systems to adopt cutting-edge capabilities. That will include expeditiously constructing the nuclear-powered submarines recently approved by the United States.
Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's national security adviser, stressed in a comment on Dec. 6 that the NSS focuses on broad policy directions rather than specific regional disputes. But the latest document has created a dangerous ambiguity around North Korea. South Korea must act to ensure it is not excluded in future interactions between the U.S. and North Korea, as well as between China and North Korea. While the security landscape may seem imbued with new dangers, the document also illustrates how much the Trump administration values economic interests, reinforcing the importance of the Indo-Pacific region holding onto and fortifying future growth prospects.
South Korea's security and diplomatic needs have evolved. Its capacities must change and adapt in tandem.