Yoon vows to rebuild Korea-US alliance; calls Moon's peace process a 'failure'

Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the main opposition conservative People Power Party, speaks during a press conference on his diplomacy and security policies held at party headquarters in Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps

Lee pledges 'transportation revolution' for metropolitan area

By Jung Da-min

Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP), vowed, Monday, to "rebuild" Korea's alliance with the U.S. to deal more effectively with both North Korea's nuclear threats and other regional security and economic cooperation issues.

He also said he would expand South Korea's role in U.S.-led multilateral initiatives, including the Quadrilateral Strategic Dialogue, widely known as the "Quad."

"I would focus on bolstering a comprehensive and strategic alliance with the United States based on the shared values and principles of freedom, democracy, the market economy, constitutionalism and human rights," Yoon said during a press conference on his diplomacy and security policy pledges at party headquarters in Seoul.

"I will pursue open cooperation to expand common interests with related countries in the region by participating in working groups for vaccines, climate change and new technology under the Quad, a partnership between the U.S., Japan, Australia and India."

But Yoon said he is currently not seeking to join the Quad formally, instead aiming to expand South Korea's role in the network by participating in more working groups.

The main opposition candidate also criticized the Moon Jae-in government's North Korea policy, calling its peace process on the Korean Peninsula a "failure." Yoon said that President Moon and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have failed to reassure the people of their safety from potential nuclear attacks from North Korea, while focusing on the issue of realizing an end-of-war declaration.

"North Korea is upgrading its nuclear capabilities and testing what it calls 'hypersonic' missiles. It has blatantly been provocative. The DPK's so-called peace process on the Korean Peninsula has completely failed," Yoon said.

He added he would establish in the military a three-axis air defense system ― consisting of the Kill Chain preemptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) plan ― to counter potential nuclear threats posed by the North better.

However, Yoon said that he will leave the door open for dialogue with the North and provide "full" economic support if the North actively engages in its denuclearization.

As for his objectives for diplomatic relations with the U.S. and China amid their growing rivalry, Yoon said he would focus on the security alliance with the U.S., while seeking economic cooperation with China.

"North Korea and China are virtual allies in terms of security, just like South Korea and the U.S. are. South Korea should be committed to the security alliance with the U.S., and seek to strengthen economic cooperation with China based on the principle of mutual respect," Yoon said.

Asked about whether he would participate in an inter-Korean summit, Yoon said he would not hold a summit for its own sake without making any agreements in advance through working groups.

"When the leaders try to meet, they basically reach a preliminary agreement to improve bilateral relations. But holding a summit first and saying, 'Let's do better in the future,' is nothing but a show. I will not pursue such a show nor use the issue of inter-Korean reunification for domestic politics," Yoon said.

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a press conference on his policy promises for Gyeonggi Province, held at an art hall in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Joint Press Corps

Yoon's rival candidate Lee Jae-myung of the DPK has criticized Yoon's North Korea policy, saying Yoon was creating unnecessary tensions on the Korean Peninsula by promoting the idea of a preemptive strike against the North, to win more support from members of the country's conservative bloc.

On the same day, Lee presented his policy promises for Gyeonggi Province, the country's most populated province with about 13.5 million residents. He served as governor of the province before becoming the ruling party's candidate for the presidential election.

Holding a press conference at an art hall in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Lee vowed to carry out a transportation project connecting the entire metropolitan area within an average of 30 minutes, by expanding the construction of the Great Train Express (GTX) commuter rail networks, subways and expressways.

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