"North-South May Move Ahead of North Korea-US Talks" Kang Kyung-wha, Chung Eun-bo, Lee Do-hoon Trio's Intense Diplomatic Mission to the US

Sought US 'Understanding' but Challenges Remain in Inter-Korean Cooperation, Defense Costs, and Troop Dispatch
Many Issues Only Confirmed Differences... US Ambassador Harris in Korea Again Opposes 'Considering North Korea Individual Tourism'
Speculation Ramps Up in Defense Cost-Sharing Talks, 7th Negotiation Scheduled in Seoul

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The first diplomatic efforts toward the United States this year to resolve the numerous pending issues between South Korea and the United States have effectively concluded. Starting from the 14th (local time), Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea's ambassador for the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on defense cost-sharing, and Lee Do-hoon, director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Office for Peace and Diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula, conveyed the South Korean government's position.

Although there were no remarkable achievements overall, it was meaningful in that both sides confirmed their differences and sought the U.S.'s "understanding" regarding inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects announced by President Moon Jae-in in his New Year's address and press conference earlier this year.

◆ "Inter-Korean cooperation may advance before North Korea-U.S. talks" = At the South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting held for the first time in nine months since March last year, Minister Kang Kyung-wha consulted with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, alliance issues, and recent developments in the Middle East. She emphasized, "Depending on the timing, inter-Korean cooperation may proceed before North Korea-U.S. talks. There are definitely projects that can be carried out with exemptions from North Korea sanctions," focusing on conveying the government's stance on resuming North Korea-U.S. dialogue and inter-Korean cooperation plans such as individual tourism to North Korea.

Minister Kang said, "We reviewed various situations related to North Korea and engaged in strategic communication on how to maintain the momentum for dialogue moving forward." Regarding the inter-Korean cooperation plans announced by President Moon in his New Year's address and press conference, she added, "The U.S. side is fully understanding of our intentions and hopes."

The U.S. side avoided direct comments but showed support for "South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation" related to the Korean Peninsula and Middle East issues. The U.S. State Department stated, "We reaffirmed close coordination between South Korea and the U.S. on North Korea," and "The two ministers highly appreciated the enduring strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and reiterated commitments to cooperation on the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy and South Korea's New Southern Policy."

Lee Do-hoon, director of the Office for Peace and Diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula, visited the U.S. from the 15th to 18th (local time) to continue discussions with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on the North Korea-U.S. dialogue, which has been stalled since October last year, and the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. Upon arrival in the U.S., Lee told reporters that he would discuss with the U.S. side the issue of promoting individual tourism related to inter-Korean cooperation projects, stating, "I think it is most necessary to frankly discuss each other's positions and seek mutual understanding."

After a lunch meeting with Deputy Secretary Biegun on the 16th (local time), when asked about Biegun's reaction to individual tourism to North Korea, Lee said, "We plan to continue consultations," and added, "Basically, the U.S. respects decisions made by us as a sovereign nation." He refrained from providing specific details about the discussions.

Regarding the resumption of North Korea-U.S. talks, he said it depends on North Korea's decision. Lee stated, "Recent North Korean statements leave the possibility open," adding, "The issue is whether North Korea will decide to come forward; we need to wait and see a bit more. It seems the U.S. is continuing its efforts as well."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris Throws a Wrench in Inter-Korean Cooperation Projects = As issues related to inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects expanded, voices from the U.S. side emerged to check these developments. Harry Harris, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, who has previously disrupted dialogue agendas between South Korea and the U.S., stated at a press briefing with foreign journalists after the South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting that the South Korean government should sufficiently consult with the U.S. regarding inter-Korean cooperation projects such as promoting individual tourism to North Korea.

At a foreign press briefing held at an undisclosed location in Seoul on the 16th, Ambassador Harris said, "To avoid misunderstandings that could trigger sanctions in the future, it is better to handle these matters through the South Korea-U.S. working group." This was effectively a statement putting the brakes on the plans announced by President Moon in his New Year's address and press conference. Harris added, "President Moon's optimism is encouraging and creates hope," but regarding the news that the South Korean government is promoting individual tourism to North Korea, he said, "It is important for Washington and Seoul to closely consult with each other."

A U.S. State Department official also emphasized "implementation of sanctions resolutions." Through Voice of America (VOA), it was reported that South Korea and the U.S. promised to closely coordinate for a unified response to North Korea. The official said, "The U.S. is closely cooperating with South Korea on efforts related to North Korea," and "All U.N. member states must implement U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions."

In fact, on the 14th (local time), the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on its website that it had designated North Korea's Namgang Trading Company and the Beijing lodging facility in China as sanctions targets related to North Korea's illegal overseas labor dispatch.

◆ Hormuz Deployment: U.S. Pushes for Joint Defense Participation vs. South Korea's Cautious Stance = The highly sensitive issue of deployment to the Strait of Hormuz appeared to have a tense standoff between the U.S. side, which demands participation in joint defense, and South Korea's position, which considers the protection of overseas nationals and South Korea-Iran relations.

After the South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting, Minister Kang Kyung-wha said, "We received detailed explanations on how the U.S. plan is progressing and which countries are participating," adding, "Decisions on our side will continue to be discussed at the NSC (National Security Council) level, and this dialogue will be quite helpful in advancing our NSC discussions."

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when asked whether the U.S. made a direct request for deployment to the Strait of Hormuz during the meeting, said, "The U.S. basically holds the position that all countries with significant economic stakes in the Strait of Hormuz should contribute," emphasizing, "Of course, we consider this, but we also need to think about the safety of our nationals and companies in the region and our relations with Iran when making decisions."

The issue of "joint defense" in the Middle East triggered by deployment to the Strait of Hormuz remains a task to be continuously resolved between South Korea and the U.S. It is known that the South Korean government is considering contributing by expanding the operational range of the Cheonghae Unit, which is currently active in the Gulf of Aden, instead of directly participating in joint defense in the Strait of Hormuz.

Based on the discussions at the South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting, the Standing Committee meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) held on the 17th discussed "promoting inter-Korean cooperation in a way that contributes to substantive progress in North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations this year and revitalizes the peace process on the Korean Peninsula," as well as "measures to protect the lives and property of South Korean citizens and companies and ensure the safe and free navigation of South Korean vessels."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Defense Cost-Sharing Negotiations Stalled, Differences Confirmed Amid Agreement Gap = The first South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations this year ended with only differences confirmed. Although President Moon Jae-in and Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min made remarks suggesting "progress in negotiations," the first negotiations held after the lapse of the defense cost-sharing agreement failed to find any notable common ground between the two sides. It was confirmed that there was no discussion of deployment to the Strait of Hormuz linked to defense cost-sharing, as some had suggested.

Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea's ambassador for the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations, who returned home after the negotiations, told reporters at Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. on the 16th (local time) that regarding Chief of Staff Noh's remarks about significant convergence of opinions in the defense cost-sharing negotiations, "New issues always arise during the negotiation process," adding, "What constitutes a significant level can vary by person, so from our standpoint, we are working to reach an agreement as soon as possible to minimize the gap in the agreement."

Ambassador Jeong conducted negotiations for the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) over two days from the 14th to 15th (local time) with James DeHart, the U.S. State Department's lead negotiator for defense cost-sharing. Jeong said, "We are moving toward a resolution, but overall, we still need to resolve differences to create an agreement that both sides understand." When asked if common ground was being found, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "We are discussing how to creatively find solutions that allow both sides to coexist."

Coincidentally, on the same day, the U.S. Department of Defense indirectly pressured South Korea to increase defense costs, supporting the U.S. position. Defense Department spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said in a briefing regarding questions about defense cost-sharing negotiations, "South Korea's contributions return to the South Korean economy through goods and services." The U.S. is reportedly warning of unpaid leave for South Korean workers supporting U.S. Forces Korea. Hoffman's remarks on that day were interpreted as a message that the U.S. might hold South Korean workers hostage if the agreement is not reached.

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