Jeong Eui-yong: "Comprehensive Development of the Korea-US Alliance," Overcoming Differences in Views Between Korea and the US Is the Biggest Challenge

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Jeong Eui-yong, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated in his inaugural speech on the 9th, "We must develop the ROK-US alliance, the foundation of our diplomacy, in a healthier, mutually beneficial, and comprehensive manner."

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong is walking out after paying respects at the Memorial Tower at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 9th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, he diagnosed that "we face the task of achieving complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishing lasting peace."

Minister Jeong expressed this during his inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, showing his determination to play a role in laying the groundwork for the Korean Peninsula peace process during the last year of the Moon Jae-in administration.

He emphasized that upgrading the ROK-US alliance is essential above all for the establishment of the Korean Peninsula peace process.

Minister Jeong said, "The late Minister Park Dong-jin, who led our diplomacy at the heart of the Cold War and laid the cornerstone of the ROK-US alliance, often said that 'a diplomat is a warrior without a gun.' While developing the ROK-US alliance, we must also work together with our key partners such as China, Japan, Russia, ASEAN, and the EU to achieve peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia."

As Minister Jeong declared strengthening the ROK-US alliance as his first priority upon taking office, he plans to coordinate opinions soon through a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

During the phone call, Minister Jeong is expected to discuss plans to upgrade the ROK-US alliance and North Korean denuclearization by meeting Secretary Blinken in person during a visit to the U.S. within the first quarter.

In this regard, Ko Yoon-joo, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mark Naeper, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific, reportedly discussed ways to promote high-level exchanges between the two countries, including a ROK-US foreign ministers' meeting, through a virtual consultation.

In diplomatic circles, there are many voices calling for a sophisticated strategy to address the perception gap between the ROK and the U.S. on issues such as North Korean denuclearization before strengthening the ROK-US alliance.

This perception gap became starkly apparent following Minister Jeong's remarks at the confirmation hearing on the 5th. Minister Jeong repeated the previous assertion that "North Korea has the will to denuclearize, and peace on the Korean Peninsula has become normalized."

In response, the U.S. State Department rebutted, stating, "North Korea's intent to proliferate advanced technologies related to nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to international peace and security and endangers the global nonproliferation regime."

In fact, on the 9th, the expert panel of the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee stated in its annual report that "North Korea showcased new short-range and medium-range missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) systems through several military parades last year, and declared preparations for testing and producing new ballistic missile warheads and developing tactical nuclear weapons."

Amid intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, determining our stance on diplomacy toward China is also a challenge. Since the beginning of his presidency, U.S. President Joe Biden has warned that "while there will be no physical conflict with China, there will be extreme competition," and has been actively pursuing measures to check China, including pushing for an online 'Quad summit.'

This U.S. stance could further complicate the North Korean issue, which requires cooperation from both the U.S. and China.

Professor Hwang Jae-ho of the Department of International Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies said, "Minister Jeong should listen carefully to the U.S. during consultations on North Korea policy and persuade them in a 'low-key' manner. If the U.S. and China apply pressure simultaneously, by advocating multilateralism, we can protect our interests in North Korea policy and economic issues."

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