The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, May 19, 2022 | 20:34
Foreign Affairs
Korean gov't gearing up for diplomatic push with new US president
Posted : 2020-11-03 17:32
Updated : 2020-11-03 21:27
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden participate in the second presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 22. / AFP-Yonhap
U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden participate in the second presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 22. / AFP-Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo

The government is bracing up for a post- presidential election scenario to seek to deepen its ties with the United States, given that depending on who wins, foreign policy toward the Korean Peninsula is likely to take a hugely different path.

The race for the White House began, Tuesday (local time), pitting President Donald Trump against former Vice President Joe Biden.

Considering the U.S. influence on Korea's diplomatic and security issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formed a massive taskforce led by First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun, to gauge American public opinion toward each candidate and formulate Seoul's response to the election outcome. The Korean Embassy in the U.S. also has an official in charge of overseeing a team monitoring the election.

One of the primary issues that heads of states around the world could face would be when to have phone talks with the president-elect of the U.S., with each country competing to get front places in the queue, while the Moon Jae-in administration is bracing up for the competition after the election.

When Trump was elected the 45th U.S. president in 2016, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talked with Trump earlier than then-President Park Geun-hye. In addition, Abe became the first foreign leader to meet Trump when visiting New York and discuss future policies between the two countries, one week after the election.

In that connection, the bilateral ties between Japan and the U.S. were highly regarded, while Abe was in office. Abe quit in September due to health problems.

"The government may seek to have a phone conversation between President Moon and the U.S. president-elect earlier than Japan," a government official said.

Right after the election result comes, the Korean Embassy in the U.S. will play a major role in contacting the winning side.

Should Trump be reelected, the embassy will continue cooperating with officials of the current U.S. administration, but in the event of a Biden win, it plans to approach Democratic Congress members and their aides. During the election campaign, the Biden camp never met with representatives from other countries, and the embassy is expected to reach out to Biden's side by using those linked to the Democratic Party or groups of overseas Koreans if the former vice president is victorious.

The government is also likely to take advantage of Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha's planned trip to the U.S. that could be made as early as next week. Kang has accepted U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's invitation to the U.S. for ministerial talks after the American diplomat canceled his trip to Korea in October due to Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis.

Given the importance of the timing of her trip, the foreign minister may also try to reach out to the Biden camp.

"While respecting the current administration, she may hold a meeting with Democratic Party officials to explain the Korean government's stance on pending bilateral issues," a government source said.


Emailksw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]
  • Kim says Chinese permanent residents should be stripped of right to vote in Korea
  • Anti-LGBTQ sentiment widespread in Korea: survey
  • South Korea to join US-led Indo-Pacific economic initiative
  • CJ, Ottogi uneasy about Harim's tactics to sell new cooked rice
  • Protecting Korea's semiconductor leadership
  • [INTERVIEW] Yoon's efforts to bolster Korea-US alliance will inevitably disturb China
  • North Korea asks China, Russia for help amid COVID crisis: reports
  • Luna debacle casts ripple effect over Korean stocks
  • Fear of deadliest famine in 1990s haunts North Korea amid national lockdown
  • Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface
  • PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up' PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up'
  • Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years
  • Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year
  • 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions
DARKROOM
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group