This article was originally published in Voice of America and translated by OKN Correspondent.
President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea called US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the Republic of Korea a deterrence against North Korea from the US and South Korea. Speaker Pelosi, in turn, conveyed to President Yoon to build together a free Indo-Pacific order. Kim Hwan Yong reporting from Seoul.
South Korea’s First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, Kim Tae Hyo said that President Yoon spoke by phone with Speaker Pelosi for about 40 minutes during her visit on the 4th. According to Deputy Director Kim, President Yoon said during the phone call that “Speaker Pelosi and her delegation’s visit to South Korea will be the US-ROK’s sign of deterrence against North Korea.”
Speaker Pelosi went on to say, “The US-ROK Alliance has important meaning from various perspectives, but there is something that must be observed in moral terms as well,” stating further that “recently in Washington DC, there was the dedication ceremony for the Wall of Remembrance honoring the US-ROK servicemembers who died in the Korean War, and thus we have the duty and responsibility to keep and defend the peace and promise of prosperity that has been paid for by the countless sacrifice over the decades.”
She further put forth, “Going forward, let us continue to keep the open and free Indo-Pacific order of the US and ROK.”
Deputy Director Kim also explained that President Yoon stated during the May 21st US-ROK summit that “a promise was made with President Joe Biden to work closely with the US Congress in advancing the global comprehensive strategic alliance in the future.”
In a joint press release after meeting with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo at the National Assembly, US House Speaker Pelosi expressed her willingness to take joint action against North Korea’s successive provocations and escalation of nuclear weapons development.
From ROK Speaker Kim Jin-pyo:
“The two sides expressed concern over the increasing severity of North Korea’s threat and decided to support the two governments’ efforts to achieve substantial denuclearization and peace through international cooperation and diplomatic dialogue based on the strong and extended deterrence that our people can feel.”
Speaker Pelosi also stated that “Our three main pillars are security, economics, and governance. In all three of those areas, the U.S.-South Korean relationship is very strong, and we learn from each other.”
Speaker Pelosi stat, “The three main, important purposes of our Congressional delegation visit to South Korea are security, economy, and governance,” and went on to say, “In all three areas, the United States and South Korea have built very solid relationships and are learning a lot from each other.”
“We discussed the Asia-Pacific Initiative and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) that was discussed through our summit in May,” Pelosi said. She went on to stress, “We’re trying to work together to achieve all of our goals.”
Speaker Pelosi said, “The U.S.-South Korea relationship is very special, and there are many things to talk about, such as common values we both share, overcoming the coronavirus pandemic, and saving the Earth,” and stressed, “We can promote it not only through national leaders but also through cooperation between the Congress and the ROK National Assembly.”
ROK National Assembly Speaker Kim said, “We sincerely discussed ways to cooperate to strongly support the development of the U.S.-South Korea alliance into a comprehensive global alliance, noting that the U.S.-South Korea alliance expands to a military security, economy, and technology alliance.” He further stated, “We have decided to actively promote the adoption of a resolution to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the alliance with the expectations of the people of both countries for the development of the alliance.”
Speaker Kim said, “I am confident that the consecutive visit by Speaker Pelosi, following President Biden’s visit immediately after the inauguration of the new government, will be a symbolic and important milestone in U.S.-South Korea relations.”
The US House Speaker visiting South Korea is the first in twenty years, after the 2002 visit by then-Speaker Dennis Hastert. Speaker Pelosi is currently leading a US Congressional delegation on a visit through five countries in Asia. The Delegation visited South Korea on the 3rd, following visits to Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan, and will also go to Japan.
Cho Han-beom, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), said Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Seoul is a step toward strengthening democratic solidarity as the U.S.-China strategic competition, the U.S.-Russia conflict stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and North Korea’s nuclear threat intensify the confrontation between democratic and authoritarian states.
“In the longer term, the Republic of Korea-U.S. alliance has evolved into a global alliance since the end of the Moon Jae In government. In particular, since the Yoon Suk Yeol administration has decided to develop the ROK-U.S. alliance into a comprehensive strategic alliance, it can be seen that strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance in response to the North Korean nuclear issue is strengthening the alliance.”
Meanwhile, North Korea has reacted sensitively to Speaker Pelosi’s trip to Asia. In particular, regarding Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, there was unusually quick condemnation from the top authorities of the North Korean regime.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday through the KCNA in a Q&A session with reporters that he supported China’s position regarding the Speaker’s visit to Taiwan and called it “a shameless act of U.S. meddling in internal affairs.”
Jeon Byung-gon, a senior researcher and expert on NK-China relations at KINU, said North Korea is actively taking advantage of the Taiwan issue as the U.S.-China conflict intensifies since this creates more diplomatic space for the regime.
“As the conflict between China and the U.S. intensifies and the cooperation between them shrinks, North Korea’s position becomes wider, so it seems that North Korea is actively taking sides with China and is looking for its own move in that context.”
Meanwhile, China, which adheres to the “One China” principle that regards Taiwan as part of its country, has launched a high-intensity military exercise aimed at Taiwan, calling Pelosi’s visit an interference in the country and vehemently opposing it.
Tensions are also increasing as U.S. forces deploy aircraft carrier fleets in the Philippine Sea in southeastern Taiwan.
Park Byung-kwang, Director of the Center for International Cooperation at the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), which is under the National Intelligence Service (NIS), said that if tensions surrounding Taiwan become overheated due to accidental clashes, North Korea may launch provocations on its own.
“If the U.S. has a front developed with Russia, and has a conflict with China over the Taiwan issue, then it won’t be able to afford to worry about North Korea’s nuclear problem or missile launches. So, depending on the situation, North Korea could cause provocations that could take advantage of the regional order.”
On Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, Director Park said the South Korean government is refraining from expressing its position because it is aware of a backlash from its largest trading partner, China, and that it will be a burden for the South Korean government to discuss the issue at the ROK-China Foreign Ministers’ summit to be held next month.
Kim Hwan Yong for VOA, from Seoul.
