Trump Meets with Jeong Eui-yong Emphasizing 'Strong Alliance'... Kang Kyung-hwa Faces Deepening Dilemma

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Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attended the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th, receiving a report from officials with a serious expression. Minister Kang provided a briefing on the Iran situation. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Ahead of the upcoming South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for next week, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is facing deep concerns. She is tasked with finding a breakthrough in the deadlocked inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. relations while dealing with the U.S. government's demands for dispatching troops to the Hormuz Strait and enforcing sanctions against North Korea.

On the 8th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump held an unexpected meeting with Chung Eui-yong, Director of the South Korean National Security Office, who was visiting Washington for a high-level South Korea-U.S.-Japan security consultation, emphasizing the "strong alliance." The White House stated that President Trump briefly met with Director Chung and Shigeru Kitamura, Director of Japan's National Security Secretariat, mentioning that South Korea and Japan are America's strongest allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Accordingly, diplomatic circles speculate that President Trump's surprise meeting, which was not originally scheduled, might have been intended to emphasize the U.S. stance on the Iran crisis and North Korea issues. It could be seen as pressure to highlight the alliance in response to Iran's retaliatory attack on the U.S. military base in Iraq.

Similarly, the U.S. State Department responded to President Moon Jae-in's New Year's address emphasizing inter-Korean exchange and cooperation with a principled stance on the obligation to enforce sanctions against North Korea. The State Department announced on the 9th that Director Chung met with Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in Washington D.C. on the 8th to reaffirm close coordination on North Korea issues.

Minister Kang will hold the first and tenth-ever meeting this year with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in San Francisco on the 14th. This meeting between the two foreign ministers comes four months after the UN General Assembly in New York last September. Coincidentally, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is also scheduled to visit San Francisco during the same period, raising the possibility of a trilateral meeting among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan's foreign ministers.

Kim In-chul, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained, "The two ministers will discuss the situation assessment and future response measures for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and peace settlement, comprehensive and mutually beneficial development of South Korea-U.S. relations, and exchange views on regional and international issues, including the recent situation in the Middle East."

The foreign ministers' meeting is expected to address multiple pressing issues facing South Korea and the U.S. simultaneously. In particular, attention will focus on the renewed discussion about dispatching South Korean troops to the Hormuz Strait amid the escalating Middle East tensions. Recently, even Harry Harris, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, publicly expressed hope for South Korea's troop dispatch, adding pressure on the Korean government.

In response, Minister Kang officially stated that the U.S. request for troop dispatch and South Korea's position might differ. On the 9th (Korean time), during a plenary session of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, she said, "Considering the analysis of the situation and relations with Middle Eastern countries, our position may not necessarily align with that of the U.S. We have also maintained long-standing economic relations with Iran." She added, "There have been continuous requests for participation in the Hormuz operation, and we are prioritizing the safety of our citizens and vessel navigation while considering various options."

As the Middle East issue intensifies, there are concerns that discussions related to the Korean Peninsula peace process, which the Korean government desires, may be sidelined or proceed in directions unfavorable to South Korea. According to Voice of America (VOA) on the 9th (local time), the U.S. State Department reiterated the obligation to enforce sanctions against North Korea in response to President Moon's New Year's address emphasizing expanded inter-Korean exchange and cooperation. Moreover, other issues such as the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on defense cost-sharing between South Korea and the U.S., and the termination of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between South Korea and Japan, could become entangled.

A diplomatic source said, "The U.S. is likely to prioritize the Iran issue and actively demand a joint front against Iran. South Korea will strive to keep the Korean Peninsula peace process, including progress in North Korea-U.S. dialogue and exemptions from sanctions for inter-Korean economic cooperation, on a parallel track, while recognizing that contributions beyond the Cheonghae Unit will be inevitable."

An emergency press conference opposing the U.S. attack on Iran and calling for the suspension of the deployment of South Korean troops to the Strait of Hormuz is being held on the 9th at Gwanghwamun Square near the U.S. Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.