'2+2 Meeting' Strengthens Korea-US Alliance, Agenda and Scope of Consultation Disappointing

[Asia Economy Reporter Inho Yoo] The visit of U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to South Korea, the first since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration, demonstrated the solid stature of the Korea-U.S. alliance.

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Defense Minister Suh Wook are taking a commemorative photo with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the morning of the 18th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of the Korea-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The Korea-U.S. foreign and defense ministers' meeting (2+2 meeting), which had been suspended during former President Donald Trump's administration, was resumed after five years, providing an opportunity to closely coordinate on various bilateral issues such as North Korea policy and the Korea-U.S. defense posture.

However, there are also some regrets. Sensitive issues between the two countries, such as North Korean denuclearization and human rights, the Quad, and China containment, were completely omitted from the joint statement, leading to analyses that the scope of the agenda and the depth of consultations fell short of expectations.

The role and participation of South Korea in the U.S.'s China containment strategy and the issue of North Korean human rights remain significant challenges that must be addressed from now on.

The phrase in the joint statement confirming that "the North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile issues are the alliance's top priority and that the two sides will closely coordinate to resolve these issues" reveals the limitations of this 2+2 meeting.

It amounted only to a declaration that the North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile issues are a priority concern.

Some analysts expressed disappointment over the absence of the phrase "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" in the North Korea policy section.

While "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" refers to the current administration's North Korea policy goal, unlike "denuclearization of North Korea," it can be interpreted to include not only North Korea's nuclear weapons but also the U.S. nuclear umbrella provided to South Korea.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "There is no absolute requirement to include or exclude the phrase 'denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishment of permanent peace,' and the wording was agreed upon within a limited space."

Cho Sung-ryeol, advisory research fellow at the National Security Strategy Institute, said, "The omission of 'denuclearization' in the 2+2 joint statement appears to be a more cautious approach by South Korea, as it is a direct party to the issue," adding, "Considering North Korea's backlash through statements by Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Choe Son-hui, first vice foreign minister, as well as the ongoing review of U.S. North Korea policy, this was taken into account."

The word "China" was completely excluded from this 2+2 joint statement.

It was only indirectly expressed as, "Against the backdrop of increasing challenges to the regional security environment, the shared values of the Korea-U.S. alliance support the commitment of both countries to oppose all acts that undermine and destabilize the rules-based international order."

This contrasts with the U.S.-Japan 2+2 joint statement, which explicitly stated, "The United States and Japan recognize that actions by China inconsistent with the existing international order pose political, economic, military, and technological challenges to the U.S.-Japan alliance and the international community."

However, even though the issue of South Korea's participation in the U.S.-led China containment coalition was not substantively addressed this time, there are concerns that it will remain a persistent challenge going forward.

From the U.S. perspective, the Korea-U.S. alliance is considered a core element of Indo-Pacific regional security, and South Korea cannot be free from the China pressure and containment efforts led by the U.S.

Shin Beom-chul, head of the Foreign and Security Center at the Korea National Strategy Institute, said, "There appears to be a significant difference in views between South Korea and the U.S. regarding China containment," adding, "How to coordinate this will be a future task for both countries."

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