3 PM Interview with the US Secretary of State and Defense at the Blue House
Kim Yeo-jeong and Choi Seon-hee talks as if to deal with North Korea issues
The day before, Blincoln discussed anti-China and North Korean human rights
“Peace Process on the Korean Peninsula” is different from Eui-Yong
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President Moon Jae-in meets Secretary of State Tony Blincoln and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today, with the first high-level visit to Korea since the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Above all, it is expected that the ROK and the United States will exchange positions on the North Korea issue on the occasion of the talks by North Korean Labor Party Vice President Kim Yeo-jeong on the 16th and the talks with the First Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Sun-hee on the 18th. In this case, at the present time, President Moon is expected to actively emphasize the necessity of promoting the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, and the US side will discuss North Korea’s military threats and human rights issues, as well as confirming mutual contact points as well as different positions.
According to the Blue House, President Moon meets with Ministers Blincoln and Austin at the main building of the Blue House at 3 pm on the 18th. This is the first time President Moon has met a high-ranking official from the Biden administration. The head of the National Security Office, Seo Hoon, also meets with Ministers Blincoln and Austin before and after the interview with President Moon. The main issues are expected to be strengthening the ROK-US alliance, issues on the Korean peninsula including North Korea, and regional and global issues.
Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok said at a briefing the day before, “President Moon reported major achievements in Korea, including the results of the Korea-US ‘2+2 Diplomatic and Defense Ministers’ Meeting’ held in the morning of the 18th, and the hard work of the two ministers for the development of the alliance I will congratulate you.”
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In particular, diplomats predicted that President Moon could present the two ministers with plans for the overall restoration of inter-Korean-North American relations, which he intends to pursue for the remainder of his tenure. Although Vice Minister Kim’s discourse on the 16th was on the surface of the severance of inter-Korean relations, there are also interpretations that the task of persuading the United States was actually thrown on our side. Even though the ROK-US combined military training began on the 8th, Vice-minister Kim seemed to have blatantly aimed at Blincoln-Austin’s visit to Korea by deliberately speaking criticism at the end of the training.
First Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Sun-hee also spoke to the Chosun Central News Agency on the same day and confirmed that the United States attempted to contact them in February this year, and said that dialogue can only take place when the hostile policy toward North Korea is withdrawn. On the outside, it seems to show a strong attitude toward the United States, but it is also evaluated that it is a strategy to draw attention to the two ministers of the United States as an opportunity to visit Korea. Even if President Moon does not directly address the talks of Vice Minister Kim, he can take this opportunity to more actively highlight pending issues related to North Korea.
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However, there are also concerns that in this interview, only differences in positions between the ROK and the United States can be confirmed on the North Korean issue. In fact, at a meeting with Foreign Minister Eui-yong Eui-yong the day before, Secretary Blincoln argued that “China systematically undermines the Hong Kong economy through coercion and aggression, destroys Taiwan’s democracy, violates Tibet’s human rights, and violates human rights laws in the South China Sea. “I started criticizing it,” he said. He then explained the necessity of participating in the anti-China front, saying, “It is very important for us to confront our values now.” He also discussed the issue of human rights in North Korea, which the South Korean government treats lukewarmly, and emphasized that “North Korea’s totalitarian system continues to systematically and extensively abuse human rights targeting North Koreans.” They argued that “we must defend basic rights and freedoms,” and “confront those who oppress them.”
Regarding this, Minister Eui-yong Eui reiterated the position of the existing government, saying, “As a result of today’s talks, we hope that the peace process on the Korean Peninsula will be firmly established and a momentum for practical progress will be provided.”
/ Reporter Yoon Kyung-hwan [email protected]
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