Shim "Will the ROK-US-Japan Alliance Allow Japan's Involvement in the Korean Peninsula?"... Yoon "They Can Come In, But..."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok, Lee Myung-hwan] Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, asked Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party presidential candidate, about his stance on the South Korea-US-Japan military alliance on the 25th. Yoon responded, calling it a "hypothetical scenario," but countered, "Would you absolutely not do it?"

At the 2nd presidential candidate debate hosted by the National Election Commission that day, Sim asked, "The 'three no's' regarding THAAD refer to the South Korea-US-Japan military alliance, participation in the US missile defense (MD) system, and THAAD deployment. You don't intend to participate in the South Korea-US-Japan military alliance that would allow Japan to intervene in the Korean Peninsula in case of emergency, right?"

Yoon replied, "I can't assume the situation would escalate that far, but if North Korea's nuclear threat intensifies, additional THAAD deployment could be possible," adding, "While missile cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan needs to be strengthened, is it necessary to form a military alliance between us and Japan? There's no need to promise China that we won't do that."

Sim then asked again, "Are you considering the South Korea-US-Japan military alliance?" Yoon said, "Since this is a hypothetical scenario, there's no need to discuss it," but added, "Would you absolutely not do it?"

Sim answered, "Yes," and asked, "Would you allow Japan to intervene in the Korean Peninsula?"

Yoon responded, "Even if there is a South Korea-US-Japan alliance, it doesn't necessarily mean Japan would intervene in an emergency," and then trailed off.

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