Opinion - The Korea Times

Contending views on South China Sea

By Tong KimA low-key but serious exchange of views that took place between the United States and China regarding the South China Sea at the Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) May 29-31 in Singapore, shed some light on the fate of the disputed islands between peaceful resolution and military confrontation.The U.S. view was comprehensive and transparent. It was presented by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, who called on China and all other state claimants to the disputed islands to halt construction activities ― including reclamation or setting up outposts -- and not to militarize those features. There is no guarantee that China will stop. If this happens, it would be a first step to easing tension in the South China Sea. He reiterated U.S. support for a peaceful resolution of disputes “through diplomacy, not aggression, or intimidation”, a warning to China’s potential behavior in the future. While clearly opposing China’s changing the geographical map by creating artificial islands, Mr. Carter re

Jun 7, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Dangerous differences between U.S. and China

By Tong KimThe ongoing face-off between the United States and China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea has emerged as a serious source of tension. If not abated or averted by a diplomatic solution, it could escalate to threaten the prospect of Sino-American cooperation to sustain the existing regional order until another balance of power evolves in the region to allow continuing economic growth in peace and stability.The issue of the Senkaku Islands/Diaoyudao islands in the East China Sea seems to have submerged somewhat for now due to a recently upgraded U.S.-Japan defense guideline, which guarantees American military intervention to protect Japanese administration of the disputed islands.On the other hand, China’s massive reclamation to build an outpost in the South China Sea has alarmed its neighboring countries. It led to an open American reconnaissance flight with a CNN reporter onboard over the newly reclaimed island filled up with sand, maybe to test the Chinese response.  The Chinese navy radioed to the American spy plane to “leave Chinese air s

May 24, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Abe makes it difficult for all

By Tong KimFollowing a successful visit to the United States by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe late last month, South Koreans are debating on how to put this in perspective. One group thinks Abe’s contribution to the building of a robust global alliance with the U.S. reflects Seoul’s diplomatic failure resulting in the downgrading of the Republic of Korea by Washington, while another group argues that a closer U.S.-Japan relationship will enable Seoul to strengthen trilateral cooperation against North Korean threats and attain regional stability and prosperity.Nevertheless, both groups were equally disappointed at, or even resented by, Abe’s intentionally evasive words, skimming over historical issues, beyond expressing “eternal condolences” to the Americans lost during the war. During his speech to a joint session of Congress, Abe did not mention, or apologize for, Japan’s aggression or its sexual slavery. Some specialists in Washington, including Richard Bush, director of the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy Studies (CEAP), still th

May 10, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Denuclearization efforts abandoned

By Tong KimSince denuclearization efforts ― by all parties including the U.S. and South Korea ― stopped some time ago, the threat of an increasing North Korean nuclear arsenal is becoming even more serious.  The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Chinese experts assume that North Korea has about 20 nuclear weapons and that its nuclear arsenal could double by next year.U.S. assessments thus far have estimated that Pyongyang’s nuclear plants have produced enough fissile material for 10 to 16 bombs.  U.S. military planners assume that North Korea has miniaturized a nuclear warhead to mount on missiles that can be launched from a mobile vehicle, known as KN-08.There is consensus on the urgent need of a resumed denuclearization process for the Korean peninsula.  Yet nothing is being done to eliminate the dangerous weapons that are in the hands of North Korea. Pyongyang has repeatedly made clear that it is determined to keep its nuclear weapons as a means of survival and to deter any U.S. invasion and U.S. hostility.After occasional charm offensives, Pyongyang

Apr 26, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Military leaders: North nuclear weapons can hit U.S.

By Tong KimWASHINGTON ― U.S. combatant commanders responsible for deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats believe the North has advanced its technology and is capable of delivering a nuclear weapon to American soil.Testifying Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, and Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, said they are taking steps to maintain a sustainable and interoperable ballistic missile defense to respond to threats from unpredictable North Korea’s increasing capabilities.The two commanders agreed with a recent assessment from Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for defending the homeland from missile attack, that the North Korean mobile launcher KN-08 can carry a nuclear weapon as far as the United States and is operational, albeit that the system has never been tested. The South Korean defense ministry last week downplayed Gortney’s claims as an unofficial assessment of the U.S. governm

Apr 17, 2015By Tong Kim

Military leaders: North nuclear weapons can hit U.S.

Tong Kim

Uneasy competition in the Asia Pacific

By Tong KimDespite U.S. efforts to assuage differences between Japan and South Korea, the two U.S. allies are not narrowing the gap in their perspectives over history and territorial claims. The problem between Korea and Japan is looming large as a serious obstacle to U.S. moves to counter the rapid expansion of China’s power and influence, and the shifting dynamics of security relationships in the region.U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has just concluded his first Asia trip to Japan and Korea. Public reports of his consultations with Japanese and South Korean leaders showed no surprises. In Tokyo, Carter discussed three major issues, including the revision of the defense guidelines, and Japan’s legislation for collective defense and for carrying out ongoing force realignment in Japan, and relocating a large number of Marines to Guam with Japanese funds.In Seoul, Carter reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to deter North Korean threats jointly with South Korea. This is not a new but necessary ritual, as there are real threats to security on the Korean Peninsula. The same k

Apr 12, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

AIIB and THAAD

By Tong Kim Ending an eight-month agony of indecision, South Korea has decided to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) being launched by Beijing, but only after some allies of the U.S. expressed their intention to participate in the bank. Washington had reserved its endorsement for the bank, demanding that it meet international standards for a multinational institute in terms of structural and management transparency.The AIIB will be established in June, whereas the Asia Development was set up years ago through initiatives from Washington and Tokyo. The emergence of the AIIB reflects China’s growing economic power and influence in the region.  China is committed to invest $5 billion in the bank, a half of the $10 billion capital target, while the remainder will be shared by participating countries in proportion to their GDPs.Certainly, the controversial issue of deploying the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system to Korea is not directly related to the decision on the AIIB.  It is common knowledge that the THAAD has been opposed by Be

Mar 29, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Aftermath of attack on US envoy

By Tong Kim The unforgivable attack on American Ambassador to Korea Mark Lippert by a extremist nationalist in Seoul March 5 has produced a mixed consequence: “a blessing in disguise” or “good coming out of evil” for the renewed strengthening of the U.S.-Korea alliance; and, on the other hand, “evil after evil” as it contributes to a disturbing division of the South Korean public.On the positive side, Ambassador Lippert deserves much credit as he has demonstrated his dignified composure, his personal love for Korea and his resolve to prevent any negative impact of the unfortunate incident from undermining the traditional ties between the United States and South Korea.The ambassador was right when he cited a Korean proverb, “Soil gets hardened after rain,” meaning things get better after a bad thing happens.  He was quoted as saying many other positive things in Korean while recovering from his surgery. He must have been working hard to learn Korean since his arrival in the fall.He gave his first son, who was born in Korea, a K

Mar 15, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Setting priorities for politics

By Tong Kim South Korea has a unique parliamentary system under which two major competing parties prefer to agree to vote on any legislative bill or to approve cabinet nominations. Technically, the ruling Saenuri Party which has an absolute majority in the National Assembly, can endorse the president’s controversial nominee Lee Wan-Koo for Prime Minister. However, such approval requires the convening of a plenary session of the national legislature, to which the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) agreed.  The opposition party has since changed its position, proposing to determine the fate of the beleaguered candidate by conducting a joint public opinion survey with the ruling party and the presidential office. The proposal was announced by Moon Jae-in, the opposition party’s newly elected chairman, who ran unsuccessfully against President Park in the 2012 presidential election. Today he leads the polls among presidential aspirants. A parliamentary confirmation hearing has found multiple problems with Lee on several grounds. Lee

Feb 15, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Structural problems for peninsula

By Tong Kim The month of January has gone by without making any progress toward the goal of inter-Korean dialogue that was pronounced by the highest leaders in Seoul and Pyongyang at the start of 2015. Even the next few following months do not look good for North-South relations or denuclearization talks.  The chance to hold reunions of separated families around the coming lunar New Year’s Day is eclipsed. The North keeps pounding on unrealistic conditions for talks ― including suspension of joint ROK-U.S. military exercises, which will begin in weeks, and lifting of the May 24 sanctions, which the South says should be discussed in talks. Calling for suspensions of the joint military drills with the U.S. and leaflet campaigns by South Korea civic groups, Pyongyang has resumed verbal threats to “mercilessly punish the provocative acts of machination for system competition” through the National Defense Commission on Jan. 25 and the Rodong Shinmun on Jan. 30.  While the North has not officially rejected Seoul’s offer of talks made about a mont

Feb 1, 2015By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Read more

Contending views on South China Sea

Dangerous differences between U.S. and China

Abe makes it difficult for all

Denuclearization efforts abandoned

Military leaders: North nuclear weapons can hit U.S.

Uneasy competition in the Asia Pacific

AIIB and THAAD

Aftermath of attack on US envoy

Setting priorities for politics

Structural problems for peninsula

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