Korea-US Leaders' Phone Call Lays Groundwork for Korean Peninsula Situation

Moon-Biden Mention 'Improvement of Korea-Japan Relations' in First Call
Agree to Joint Efforts for Denuclearization and Peace on the Korean Peninsula
Consensus on Swift Preparation of a 'Comprehensive North Korea Strategy'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed the strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and confirmed a shared understanding of peace on the Korean Peninsula during his first summit call with U.S. President Joe Biden, marking the ‘first button’ in enhancing cooperative relations between the two countries. While some have expressed concerns about the call taking place later than with previous presidents, there is also analysis suggesting that time was needed to coordinate messages regarding North Korea.

Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the Blue House, briefed on the call between President Moon and President Biden on the morning of the 4th, stating, "They reaffirmed that the South Korea-U.S. alliance is the core alliance for regional peace between the two countries and confirmed that as a responsible alliance sharing common values, the alliance will continue to develop into a comprehensive strategic alliance contributing to the promotion of democracy, human rights, and multilateralism beyond the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region."

Experts highlight the main points of the summit call as ▲ reaffirmation of the South Korea-U.S. alliance ▲ thorough prior coordination between the two countries regarding North Korea policy. Given that the U.S. reaffirmed its existing stance or gave positive responses, this call is evaluated as laying the foundation for confirming the first diplomatic and security stance between the two countries since the Biden administration took office. Expectations for joint responses to global issues such as COVID-19, climate change, and economic polarization have also increased.

In particular, regarding climate change response, the two leaders confirmed a shared understanding. President Biden viewed climate change efforts as bringing significant economic benefits, including job creation and the development of new industries, while President Moon explained his Green New Deal policies, including the expansion of renewable energy. Going forward, the two countries are expected to accelerate mutually beneficial cooperation for the World Climate Summit, the Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) meeting, COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and global economic recovery.

The mention of improving South Korea-Japan relations during the call also stands out. Spokesperson Kang said, "The two leaders agreed on the need to promptly establish a comprehensive North Korea strategy together," adding, "They also shared the view that improving South Korea-Japan relations and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are important for peace and prosperity in the region." The U.S. administration emphasizes strengthening the trilateral alliance among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan as a cornerstone of its China policy, and President Biden’s mention of improving South Korea-Japan relations in the first call may indicate the direction of ‘Biden-style diplomacy’ in the Asia-Pacific region.

President Moon had previously spoken with President Biden when Biden was president-elect, but this is their first call since Biden’s inauguration. The call took place 14 days after Biden’s inauguration, making it the latest among past presidents. It was one day later than the call between former President Obama and former President Lee Myung-bak, which occurred 13 days after inauguration.

The delay in the call is analyzed to be due to the need to coordinate sensitive issues such as messages regarding North Korea. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "Considering the order and timing of the calls, it feels late, but the call with Japan, which was earlier than ours, contained no significant content," and added, "It seems the delay was due to coordination of North Korea messages and the U.S. domestic political schedule affected by COVID-19."

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