Ruling Party Leadership Draws Line Amid Spread of 'US-ROK Exercise Postponement' Debate... Cheong Wa Dae Also 'Cautious'

Over 60 Ruling Party Lawmakers 'Delay Signature'
Press Conference Urged Today
Song Young-gil, Ruling Party Leader, Says "Training Inevitable"
Cheong Wa Dae Also Bears Political Risk
President Moon Instructs "Careful Consultation Considering Various Factors"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Jeon Jinyoung, Ryu Jungmin, Lee Jieun] Within the ruling party, calls to postpone the imminent ROK-US joint military exercises for inter-Korean dialogue are spreading. However, the party leadership insists that the exercises should proceed as scheduled, while the Blue House is taking a cautious stance.

About 60 lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea, the Justice Party, and the Open Democratic Party have signed a proposal to postpone the ROK-US joint exercises and will hold a press conference on the afternoon of the 5th to urge this. Jin Seongjun, a Democratic Party lawmaker who participated in the signing, told Asia Economy in a phone interview that "If necessary, a high-level political decision can be made," emphasizing, "This is not an issue to be pushed forward as a fait accompli."

He added, "Since the inter-Korean communication lines have been restored, creating a turning point for improving inter-Korean relations, the suggestion to postpone is made with the intention of preserving and continuing the momentum for dialogue."

The call to postpone the ROK-US joint exercises was also raised in July last year. At that time, voices within the Democratic Party suggested postponing the exercises altogether to improve inter-Korean relations, citing the spread of COVID-19.

Concerns have also been raised. Kim Byungjoo, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former Army general, pointed out the day before, "Our party is already criticized for being weak on security and the ROK-US alliance, so this only highlights our weaknesses."

The leadership has also drawn a line. Song Younggil, leader of the Democratic Party, said on YTN Radio’s ‘Hwang Boseon’s Start of a New Morning’ on the same day, "We must resolve inter-Korean relations based on the ROK-US alliance and trust between the two countries," adding, "The agreed joint exercises between the ROK and the US are inevitable."

The Blue House showed a cautious response. This seems to be because the Blue House’s intentions themselves becoming the focus of attention carries political risks.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon Jae-in instructed Defense Minister Suh Wook the day before to "consult carefully considering various factors." When Minister Suh reported that he was consulting with quarantine authorities and the US side on the ROK-US joint exercises, taking into account the COVID-19 situation and other practical conditions, President Moon urged "careful consultation."

While various political interpretations may arise, the Blue House is wary of overinterpretation. A senior Blue House official said that day, "(The ROK-US joint exercises) have always been coordinated between the two countries and have never been handled based on North Korean variables." Another Blue House official explained, "(President Moon’s remarks) mean to comprehensively consider the COVID-19 and heatwave situations."

It is also noteworthy that reducing or postponing the ROK-US joint exercises would lower the possibility of the ‘transfer of wartime operational control,’ one of the Moon administration’s pledges. A senior Blue House official emphasized regarding the OPCON issue, "It is a big misunderstanding to assume that our government wishes for cancellation."

However, as within the ruling party, there are also diverse currents within the Blue House. Some view it as reasonable to interpret that the "various factors" President Moon mentioned include inter-Korean relations.

Kim Yonghyun, a professor in the Department of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University, diagnosed regarding the various concerns surrounding the ROK-US joint exercises, "Ultimately, the most important thing is coordination of positions between the ROK and the US."

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