The so-called ``2+2” security talks held in Seoul Wednesday were unprecedented for South Korea and the United States in many respects. First of all, it marked the first time for both the foreign and defense ministers of the two allies to get together at the same time.
U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates agreed with Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and Defense Minister Kim Tae-young to consolidate the bilateral alliance to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula. This shows firm American security commitment to South Korea, which is pivotal to thwarting any provocations by North Korea.
Seoul and Washington have come to open a new chapter in their strategic alliance and partnership. What’s important is that the two sides are moving closer than ever before. No doubt the North’s torpedo attack on the South’s warship Cheonan in the West Sea in March has contributed to strengthening the alliance. Since the ship sinking, Seoul has given top priority to national defense and security. The U.S. has also worked hard to ensure stability on the peninsula.
Regrettably, however, Seoul suffered a diplomatic setback earlier this month when the U.N. Security Council adopted a presidential statement that failed to directly blame North Korea for the naval incident. This setback has beefed up bilateral cooperation between the South and the U.S. to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.
In this sense, the Korea-U.S. security talks were successful in sending a clear message to Pyongyang that the two allies can no longer tolerate any further provocations from the North. During a summit with President Lee Myung-bak in June 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama committed to extended deterrence against North Korea, while adopting a new vision for the Seoul-Washington alliance.
It is natural for the U.S. to translate its commitment into action to defend the South against the belligerent North. The South and the U.S. will kick off a large-scale joint naval drill in the East Sea on Sunday in reaction to the Cheonan incident. We hope that the exercise with the participation of the U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington will enhance the South’s military readiness.
It is fortunate that the bilateral alliance is moving toward a new level 60 years after the outbreak of the Korean War. But, the two countries should be careful not to bring about unnecessary conflicts with neighboring countries, especially China.
Concerns are growing that China is trying to jockey for regional hegemony with its surging economic and military power. South Korea and the U.S. had to change the venue of their military drill from the West Sea to the East Sea due to China’s strong opposition.
It would be better for the South to avoid being caught in the rivalry between Beijing and Washington. It is not desirable for the Korean Peninsula to be used as a brewing ground for a new Cold War. Seoul and Washington should work together more closely to overcome such obstacles.