South Korea’s defense minister has signaled that the country may strengthen its military cooperation with rival Japan, as the two U.S. allies work to increase regional security against threats such as those made by North Korea.
Suh Wook, who spoke last week with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, on his first trip abroad since taking office, said Seoul considers Japan to be one of its partners crucial security issues and wants to continue its cooperation with the neighbor in partnership with the US
Suh Wook in Seoul on March 19.
Photographer: Jean Chung / Bloomberg
“What is protecting the Korean Peninsula is centered around the Korea-US alliance, but we believe that Korea-Japan security cooperation is also a valuable asset, which is why we need to maintain that,” Suh said in an interview with Bloomberg Television, the day after negotiations with the US envoys ended.
Blinken and Austin’s visits to Tokyo and Seoul seemed to help to thaw cold relations between neighbors, which host most American troops in the region. Ties plummeted under President Donald Trump, when tensions stemming from historical differences sparked a trade dispute that, at one point, threatened global semiconductor supply lines and nearly led South Korea to abandon a joint sharing agreement. intelligence.
The defense minister also said that Seoul will continue to develop its alliance with the new Biden government, allowing it to play a greater security role on the international stage.
President Moon Jae-in’s government has embarked on one of the country’s largest military buildings in years, seeking to add an aircraft carrier and a nuclear submarine. The measures would allow her to project more power abroad and comes after the Trump administration pressured Seoul to increase its presence in international security arrangements, such as guarding canals in the Middle East, from which South Korea receives most of its money. Petroleum.
The Biden government has also sought help from allies to form a policy against what Blinken called Chinese “aggression and coercion”, which puts South Korea in a difficult position. Beijing is its biggest trading partner and a key player in persuading North Korea to reduce its nuclear arsenal.
Suh said that there have been advances in the lengthy transfer of wartime troop management, known as the Operational Control Authority, or OPCON, from the USA to South Korea and highlighted the one from South Korea New South Policy, which aims to increase ties with Southeast Asia and India.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
On cooperation with Japan:
“There is indeed the question of questions related to history, but to feel that Korea-Japan relations are necessary in terms of defense cooperation. We will continue to hold military talks and we will continue to cooperate in the future ”.
On aircraft carrier plans:
“It is to prepare against potential threats in the future – a matter of scope for the Korean Peninsula – and to ensure flexibility for issues such as humanitarian assistance, so we believe it is necessary.”
In OPCON transfer:
“Actually, there is not much difference in terms of bringing the current combined forces command into a future version of the combined forces command, in addition to changing the position of the commander-in-chief and the deputy commander-in-chief. In that sense, our attitude of readiness has not changed much beyond the citizenship of the commander-in-chief, so we believe that there is no need to worry about the issue of our attitude of readiness. “
In the regional strategy:
“We have a principle that our New South Policy can be like regional cooperation in terms of addressing different issues. We believe that we can work with other countries that are also pursuing the New South Policy in terms of different sectors through cooperation. “
In China:
“We also explained the dialogue we have had with our Chinese military colleagues, especially about creating a hotline to continue intercommunication in relation to the flight to the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone – how we are discussing the matter and taking action to respect . “
In global politics:
“We will continue to develop the alliance into a complementary and forward-looking global alliance, while expanding the horizons of cooperation,” he said in written comments to accompany the interview.
– With the help of Shinhye Kang
(Updates with comments on China.)