Yoon's Foreign Security Advisor Former Vice Minister Kim Seong-han... "Is There Any Reason Not to Hold Korea-Japan 2+2?"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Sung-han, former Vice Foreign Minister and foreign security advisor to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared his presidential bid, emphasized that the "3-No (不) policy must be abolished as soon as possible" and if the current administration cannot do so, the new government should correct the policy. Regarding Yoon's remark about North Korean Workers' Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un, saying "cooperate where cooperation is possible," Kim interpreted it as "flexibility and adaptability."

On the afternoon of the 30th, at the 'Challenges and Tasks of Korean Foreign Security' forum held at the Maeheon Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall auditorium in Yangjae, Seoul, hosted by the 'National Coalition for Fairness and Common Sense' (hereafter Fairness and Common Sense), former Vice Minister Kim said, "The relationship with China should not be one where one side lectures the other, but rather it is important to move toward a mutually beneficial relationship where both sides can help each other."

The 3-No (不) policy refers to the 2017 agreement with China not to deploy additional THAAD systems, not to participate in the U.S. missile defense plan (MD), and not to form a Korea-U.S.-Japan military alliance. Former Vice Minister Kim stated, "It is unacceptable to make promises on such matters related to Korea's sovereign security situation to a specific country," and emphasized, "The 3-No policy is not officially called a policy by the government but rather a stance, and if it is a stance, it should be abolished even more urgently."

Regarding the four-nation security consultative body centered on the U.S., the 'Quad,' he said, "I have repeatedly argued that joining is necessary, but at present, I believe the timing has been missed," adding, "Instead, it is necessary to participate in the 'New Technology' working group within the Quad." Since the U.S. and China are competing over advanced technologies such as semiconductors, participating in the new technology working group can demonstrate our orientation.

After the forum, when asked by reporters about the meaning of Yoon's remarks concerning General Secretary Kim, he explained, "If there is an occasion where North Korea seems to have shown a considerably progressive change in stance, it means showing flexibility and adaptability."

Regarding criticism that Yoon's proposal of alternatives such as 2+2 and 3+3 talks in Korea-Japan relations is "empty," he responded, "Strategic dialogues are held between Korea and the U.S., so there is no reason why they cannot be held among Korea, the U.S., and Japan."

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