Korea bracing for post US-election diplomacy
National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, right, talks with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha ahead of a plenary session of the committee at the Assembly, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun
By Do Je-hae
The government is closely watching developments in the U.S. presidential election and crafting corresponding responses, according to Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday.
The presidential office held a National Security Council meeting in the afternoon to discuss the results of the election. As of 4: 30 p.m., former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump with 264 to 214 in the electoral college tally, according to unofficial figures cited by U.S. media outlets.
“We will cooperate with the incoming administration on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishing peace,” presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae. “We have a tradition of communicating with all U.S. administrations and we will keep this up.”
During the NSC meeting, President Moon Jae-in was briefed on the latest updates on the election and planned responses to various scenarios in the post-election period.
Seoul is expected to pursue active diplomacy for direct communication between President Moon and the president-elect after the results of the election are confirmed.
Despite the political uncertainties in Washington, Cheong Wa Dae has underscored its unwavering focus on its policy priority to pursue peace on the Korean Peninsula in close cooperation with the U.S.
“Regardless of which administration is in power, we will exert all our efforts to realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the building of a peace regime,” Suh Hoon, chief of the National Security Office, said during a session at the National Assembly House Steering Committee, Wednesday. “Whether it's a Republican or Democratic administration in the U.S., our consistent goal it so achieve North Korea's complete denuclearization.”
The national security adviser underlined that Seoul has a wealth of experience in dealing with both administrations.
The new U.S. leader will take office in January, and until then, Seoul will continue to engage with the current administration in Washington. In this regard, Korea's top diplomat is visiting the U.S. shortly, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will embark on a trip to Washington, Nov. 8, to discuss key issues in the alliance with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The two ministers will continue their strategic communication and reaffirm the strength of the alliance. They will also engage in in-depth discussion on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and ways to strengthen the alliance, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the ministry said. “Minister Kang will also meet with key figures from Capitol Hill and academia and exchange views on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and seek their consistent support and cooperation.” Kang will return to Seoul Nov. 11.
Another important occasion for the two countries is the visit of U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien to Seoul later this month to reciprocate his Korean counterpart Suh's Oct. 15 visit to Washington. Cheong Wa Dae said last month after Suh's visit that his U.S. counterpart would visit Seoul after the presidential election.
Seoul has paid keen attention to the election as it has huge implications for President Moon's diplomacy and national security policies. Cheong Wa Dae has held many meetings, including with the NSC and others with relevant ministries, on discussing responses to the U.S. election. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has run a taskforce led by First Vice Minister Choi Jong-kun since August.