Korea-US Summit Partnership Change Expected... Starting Virtually from 'Zero'

US Presidential Election Leaning Toward Biden Democratic Candidate... Uncertainties Like Election Lawsuits Amplify Blue House Concerns

[Asia Economy Reporters Jungmin Ryu, Jieun Lee, Dongpyo Kim] As the possibility of Democratic candidate Joe Biden winning the U.S. presidential election increases, changes in the partnership between the South Korean and U.S. presidents are becoming a reality.

President Moon Jae-in maintained a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Korean Peninsula issues, but this suggests that he may face a completely different environment. If the Biden administration takes office, it will essentially be a 'zero start' situation. The understanding between President Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un on Korean Peninsula issues may be treated as a reference when the new government is inaugurated.

Jung Se-hyun, Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council, said in an interview on the tbs Traffic Broadcasting radio program 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' on the 5th, "If Biden is elected, it is highly likely that the traditional U.S. bottom-up approach to North Korea's nuclear issue will be pursued, moving from working-level talks upward," adding, "Considering the confirmation hearing for the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, there should be a policy gap on the Korean Peninsula until July next year."

On the 4th, citizens are watching the vote counting situation of the U.S. presidential election in the Seoul Station waiting room. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

If President Trump succeeds in his re-election, he might push forward a declaration to formally end the Korean War at a rapid pace, but under a Democratic government, the situation would be entirely different.

President Moon, who served as Chief of Staff at the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, has no direct personal connection with candidate Biden as a public official. Biden served as U.S. Vice President from 2009 to 2017, which corresponds to the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations in South Korea.

There is also speculation that the combination of South Korea and a U.S. Democratic government could lead to a new partnership. Kim Jun-hyung, President of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, explained in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the same day, "In the past 30 years, South Korea's progressive governments and U.S. Democratic administrations have only overlapped for two years, between 1998 and 2000, during the presidencies of Bill Clinton and Kim Dae-jung," adding, "At that time, the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration was achieved, and South Korea effectively took the lead, which is when the phrase 'driver's seat' was coined."

Traditionally, the U.S. Democratic government has maintained amicable relations with Japan, so there is interest in what outcomes might arise if it acts as a mediator in South Korea-Japan relations. Additionally, attention is focused on whether Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will meet with the new U.S. president first or if the opportunity will go to President Moon.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House is reviewing various scenarios surrounding the U.S. presidential election but finds it difficult to act prematurely. This is because President Trump has pulled out the litigation card to overturn the current unfavorable situation. The uncertainty of the U.S. election amplifies the Blue House's concerns.

On the 4th, Suh Hoon, Director of the Blue House National Security Office, stated at the National Assembly's Steering Committee hearing, "We will make every effort to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establish a peace regime under close cooperation with any government," emphasizing, "Whether it is a Democratic or Republican administration, our government's consistent goal is the complete denuclearization of North Korea."

Director Suh added, "We have had many discussions with President Trump's side and have a foundation for cooperation," and explained, "Even if a Democratic government is established, there is extensive experience in cooperation." The Blue House plans to review response strategies related to the U.S. election through the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC).

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said on the same day, "The U.S. election has significant implications. When public opinion is divided into two, the country cannot find stability and inevitably heads toward chaos."

Chairman Kim stated, "The government needs to establish a meticulous security strategy based on multiple scenarios and prepare countermeasures for trade issues in advance," adding, "Our party is also ready to work across party lines to maximize national interests, focusing not on partisan gains but on national benefit."

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