[Comparison of Lee and Yoon's Pledges] Lee Upholds Ceasefire Declaration, Firm on US Alliance and Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Every presidential election, the conservative and progressive camps sharply clash over foreign and security policies. This is because foreign and security policies are key keywords that define the regime's distinctiveness.

In this presidential election as well, the positions of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, sharply diverge on major diplomatic issues such as North Korean denuclearization, the declaration of the end of the war, US-China relations, and Korea-Japan relations.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate's foreign and security policy can be summed up as "pragmatic diplomacy."

He intends to pursue policies centered on national interests beyond ideology in relations with key countries including North Korea, the United States, China, and Japan. Lee is expected to continue the Moon Jae-in administration's approach of establishing a peace process on the Korean Peninsula, including the declaration of the end of the war, and to play the role of mediator in Korean Peninsula issues.

However, there are criticisms that there are clear limitations in largely following the Moon administration's Korean Peninsula strategy, which has not achieved significant results.

◇ "Promoting a peace agreement roadmap, snapback sanctions on North Korea" = On the 26th of last month, Lee said on Facebook, "The declaration of the end of the war has sufficient meaning as an entry point, not an exit, for denuclearization negotiations." He believes that the declaration of the end of the war should be pursued and realized regardless of the administration.

He views the declaration of the end of the war as an essential initial step in the roadmap toward a peace agreement. Lee has publicly stated that he will take a leading role in Korean Peninsula issues.

At a press briefing with foreign journalists on the 12th of last month, he said, "I will meet with US President Joe Biden and North Korean Workers' Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un to resolve the issues." This is a continuation of the current government's "Korean Peninsula driver" theory, where South Korea mediates denuclearization negotiations between the US and North Korea.

However, he also holds some positions different from the current administration's stance on North Korean denuclearization. A representative example is the snapback card (conditional easing of sanctions), which restores sanctions if North Korea resumes nuclear activities after some sanctions have been eased.

A key official in Lee's campaign on foreign and security affairs explained, "If North Korea does not keep its denuclearization promises, sanctions will be immediately restored, and denuclearization measures by North Korea and corresponding easing of sanctions will be implemented simultaneously and step-by-step."

◇ "Pragmatic US-China relations, firm stance on Japan" = Lee's basic stance is that South Korea will not be forced to choose sides amid the confrontation between the US and China.

He considers the US as an ally and China as a partner, both important countries, and believes that South Korea should maintain a state of no conflict with either side. At a recent foreign press club briefing, Lee stated, "South Korea's diplomatic principle should be a pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests," adding, "Our status has risen to the 10th largest economy and 6th strongest military power in the world, so we should not be swayed or forced to choose but continue to create directions based on national interests."

However, in diplomatic circles, there are criticisms that Lee's stance is too theoretical and carries risks considering the current US-China relations.

Given the intensifying US-China conflict and ongoing North Korean military provocations, it is recognized that the South Korean government can no longer play the "wild card." Lee maintains a firm stance on resolving the deteriorating Korea-Japan relations.

While pledging to inherit the 1998 "Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration," he sets a "prior apology" from Japan as a precondition for improving Korea-Japan relations. Lee said, "We must be firm on issues such as history and territorial disputes," but left room by adding, "If Japan sincerely apologizes, realistic solutions can be found for the last remaining (forced labor) compensation issue."

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