Asked 34 experts, “Biden will support the North Korean Warfare Act” 0 people

Congress was the center of criticism of the United States against the’Prohibition of Warfare Against North Korea’ (Amended Inter-Korean Relations Development Act) that could lead to imprisonment for sending flyers or USB items to North Korea. The Trump administration’s State Department expressed only circumvention concerns, saying, “Promoting the free flow of information to North Korea is a priority for the United States.”

What is the position of the Biden administration that values ​​universal values ​​such as human rights? As a result of asking 34 experts, zero respondents said, “We will support the legislation of the Korean Warfare Act against North Korea.”

In addition, 14 respondents (41.2%) said that the Biden administration would oppose the shear law, but would not raise issues to Korea, and 16 respondents said that they will oppose the shear law and will also raise issues to Korea. People (47.1%). It is a matter of whether or not to pay off, and it can be interpreted as meaning that it is difficult to agree on the opinions between the Moon Jae-in administration and the Biden administration regarding the shear law.

Kim Young-soo, a professor at Sogang University’s Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, was concerned that “this issue can reveal an uncomfortable relationship between Korea and the United States without a honeymoon period, and may affect the timing and format of the Korea-US summit meeting.” In-Hwi Park, a professor at Ewha Womans University’s School of International Studies, analyzed, “It is difficult to determine whether this issue will be made an issue in the early stages, but the Biden administration will clearly recognize the issue of shearing law as a problem of information diffusion and human rights.”

There was also an opinion that the problem would become serious if the law was actually applied and punished. Hwang Joon-guk, former head of the Korean Peninsula Peace Bargaining Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “It seems that the Biden administration will first raise the issue in a roundabout manner, but if it leads to punishment by South Korea or blocking the inflow of information to North Korea, the relationship could become uncomfortable for both countries. Pointed out. Professor Bruce Bennett Rand’s Fady Graduate School said, “President Biden wants to strengthen the alliance, so he will leave tolerable problems, but not all problems.” Are you trying to punish me?” he asked.

This concern about the North Korea Warfare Act is also compared with the response to the September 19 military agreement between the two Koreas in 2018, when domestic criticism that it could lead to a weakening of the combined defense power of the US This is because 20 people (58.8%), the largest of the 34 people, answered that it would not be a big problem in reality, saying,’The Biden administration will observe and react to the situation such as North Korea-US relations without expressing any other position.’

But in fact, the focus here was taken in’Watching the situation’. Eleven out of 20 people heard the reason that “because North Korea has already broken the 9/19 agreement and neutralized it” or “it will not be possible to implement anyway, but will not make the alliance uncomfortable as a problem.” The idea is that it is not necessary for the US to make a swell by having an unrecognizable agreement for now.

However, President Moon Jae-in said at a New Year’s press conference on the 18th, regarding the joint exercises between Korea and the United States in March, “there is an agreement between the two Koreas to discuss joint military exercises between the two Koreas through the Inter-Korean Military Joint Committee. If necessary, we can consult with North Korea through the Inter-Korean Military Joint Committee.”

When the follow-up measures following the September 19 military agreement begin to be discussed, the position of the Biden administration may change. Kim Hong-gyun, former head of the Korean Peninsula Peace Bargaining Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “If North Korea is judged to have a real impact, such as raising the issue of ROK-US combined defense capabilities and the introduction of US weapons by the ROK, it can be raised.” Hideki Okuzono, a professor at Shizuoka Prefectural University in Japan, said, “The Moon Jae-in administration will not accept that the Moon Jae-in administration is taking a policy of appeasement toward North Korea, leading only inter-Korean relations, leading to limited US actions.” Park Won-gon, a professor at Handong University’s Department of International Area Studies, said, “If inter-Korean relations resume or a joint inter-Korean military joint committee is formed and discussion begins, close preliminary cooperation with the United States should be implemented.”

Experts advised that the shear law problem should be resolved through communication with the United States. Professor Park Chul-hee of Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies said, “It is desirable that South Korea clearly express its intention to respect North Korean human rights.” Jeon Jae-sung, a professor at Seoul National University’s Department of Political Science and International Relations, pointed out, “As issues such as North Korean human rights, denuclearization process, and security guarantees against North Korea may collide again in the future, it is necessary to express a clear position and share values ​​for the Korean human rights policy.”

Former National Foreign Minister Cho Byung-je said, “The key is what kind of information is introduced, and South Korea does not oppose the principle that new information needs to be introduced into North Korea. From this basic position, I can explain to the US, and the impact on the relationship between the two countries will be limited,” he predicted.

Special Report Team Reporters Chul-Jae Lee, Ji-hye Yoo, Jin-woo Jung, and Hyun-Joo Park, correspondents in Beijing, Washington, Tokyo = Shin Kyung-jin, Park Hyun-young, and Lee Young-hee [email protected]