Pan-Biden Personnel Contact Expansion, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha's Four-Day Visit to the U.S.

Minister Kang: "Biden Unlikely to Return to 'Strategic Patience' on North Korea"
Face-to-face Meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo After 9 Months on the 9th
Diplomatic Circles Focus on Whether Minister Kang Has Contacted Biden's Team... "Plans to Meet US Congress, Think Tanks, and Academia"
After Biden's Victory Confirmed, Foreign Ministry: "Will Continue Close Communication and Cooperation Based on Established Biden Network"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Until the new U.S. administration takes office in January next year, the South Korean government plans to focus on managing bilateral issues between South Korea and the U.S. and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, while also expanding contacts with personnel from the Joe Biden camp, who have secured victory in the presidential election, to resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue and advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

During a four-day visit to the U.S. from the 8th to the 11th (local time), Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is scheduled to hold a foreign ministers' meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the 9th (local time). This face-to-face diplomacy between the two foreign ministers is the first in about nine months since February last year in Germany and was arranged at the invitation of Secretary Pompeo.

This face-to-face meeting between the two ministers is expected to be very limited, focusing on reaffirming the South Korea-U.S. alliance and managing the situation on the Korean Peninsula until the new administration takes office. Minister Kang said, "Although it is a sensitive time, South Korea-U.S. relations always involve communication, and whenever there is an opportunity regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula or bilateral issues, discussions at the ministerial level take place regardless of timing." Lee Do-hoon, Director of the Office for Peace and Security Affairs on the Korean Peninsula, who is accompanying Minister Kang, is also expected to meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, the U.S. chief negotiator on North Korea, to continue discussions related to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

However, diplomatic circles are more focused on whether Minister Kang will have contact with personnel from the Biden camp rather than the meeting with Secretary Pompeo. Since the Trump administration continues until January next year, the possibility of full-scale contact with prominent Biden camp figures is low, but contacts with pro-Biden figures are expected to increase. Following Biden's confirmation of victory in the presidential election the previous day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued an official statement, pledging to maintain close communication and cooperation based on the Biden camp network it has built so far.

A Foreign Ministry official said, "In addition to the Trump administration, we plan to meet with members of the U.S. Congress, think tanks, and academia to request continued support and cooperation from the American political and academic circles for the advancement of the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance."

Accordingly, Minister Kang took a cautious stance regarding contact with Biden camp personnel, considering the transitional period leading to the new administration. Currently, Susan Rice, former National Security Advisor, Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, and Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut are mentioned as potential candidates for Secretary of State in the Biden administration. She explained, "I plan to meet various members of Congress and academia to have many meaningful conversations to strengthen South Korea-U.S. relations during this sensitive time," but she could not provide specific details about the schedule.

Nevertheless, regarding North Korea-U.S. relations, Minister Kang reiterated the expectation that the Biden administration will not return to the "strategic patience" approach of the past Barack Obama administration. On the 8th (local time), after a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Minister Kang told reporters, "Judging from what several Biden camp figures have publicly said, it does not seem that they will return to the strategic patience of the Obama administration." She had made similar remarks at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session on the 5th.

She added, "I think we need to build on the progress and achievements of the past three years," but said, "It seems too early to predict specifics on particular issues." This is interpreted as the South Korean government's intention to continue playing an active role in maintaining the achievements of North Korea-U.S. dialogue even after the Biden administration takes office.

On the 8th, citizens are watching news related to Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden, who won the 46th U.S. presidential election, in the waiting room of Seoul Station. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

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