South Korea’s defense minister noted that the country could strengthen its military cooperation with rival Japan, while the two U.S. allies work to increase regional security against threats such as those posed by North Korea.
Suh Wook, who held talks last week with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on his first trip abroad since taking office, said say that Seoul considers Japan one of its crucial security partners and wants to continue its cooperation with the neighbor in collaboration with the US
Suh Wook in Seoul on March 19th.
Photographer: Jean Chung / Bloomberg
“What protects the Korean peninsula is focused on the Korea-US alliance, but we believe that security cooperation between Korea and Japan is also a valuable asset, so we must maintain it,” Suh said in an interview of Bloomberg Television. day after ending talks with U.S. envoys.
Blinken and Austin’s visits to Tokyo and Seoul seemed to help thaw cold relations between neighbors, which host most American troops in the region. Ties fell during President Donald Trump’s tenure, as tensions stemming from historic differences sparked a trade dispute that at one point threatened global semiconductor supply lines and nearly led South Korea to abandon a joint intelligence exchange agreement.
The defense minister also said Seoul would continue to develop its alliance with the new Biden administration, which will allow it to play a greater security role on the international stage.
The government of President Moon Jae-in has embarked on one of the largest military accumulations in the country in recent years, seeking to add an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. The moves would allow it to project more power abroad and comes after the Trump administration pushed Seoul to increase its presence in international security agreements, such as the protection of waterways in the Middle East from where Korea South receives most of its oil.
The Biden administration has also been seeking help from allies to formulate policies against what Blinken called Chinese “aggression and coercion,” which puts South Korea in a difficult position. Beijing is its largest trading partner and a key player in convincing North Korea to end its nuclear arsenal.
Suh said there had been progress in the late transfer of war troop management known as the Operational Control Authority or OPCON, from the US to South Korea and highlighted that of South Korea New southern policy, aimed at elevating ties with Southeast Asia and India.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
About Japanese cooperation:
“In fact, there are issues related to history, but us feel that Korea-Japan relations are necessary in terms of defense cooperation. We will continue to hold military talks and continue cooperation in the future. “
About aircraft carrier plans:
“It’s to prepare for possible threats in the future (a matter of scope for the Korean peninsula) and to ensure flexibility on issues such as humanitarian assistance, which is why we believe it is necessary.”
In the OPCON transfer:
“Actually, there is not much difference in terms of bringing the current combined forces command to a future version of the combined forces command, as well as changing the position of the commander-in-chief and the deputy commander-in-chief. In this sense, our preparedness stance does not change much beyond the citizenship of the commander-in-chief, so we believe that there is no need to worry about the issue of our preparedness stance. “
About the regional strategy:
“We have the principle that our new southern policy can be the same as regional cooperation in terms of addressing different issues. We believe we can work with other countries that also follow the new southern policy in terms of different sectors through cooperation.” .
About China:
“We have also explained the dialogue we have been maintaining with our Chinese military counterparts, especially in creating a hotline to continue intercommunication on the flight to the Korean air defense identification zone: how we are discussing the ‘matter and taking action in that regard’.
About global politics:
“We will continue to develop the alliance into a complementary and future-oriented global alliance, while broadening the horizons of cooperation,” he said in written comments to accompany the interview.
– With the assistance of Shinhye Kang
(Updates with comments about China.)