'Shortest Ever' US-ROK Summit Just 11 Days After Inauguration... Why Did Biden Visit Korea Before Japan?

U.S. President Joe Biden (left), President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] As U.S. President Joe Biden plans to visit South Korea and Japan from the 20th to the 24th of next month, attention is focused on why he will visit South Korea before Japan.

On the 27th (local time), the White House stated in a press release, "President Biden will visit South Korea and Japan from May 20 to 24 to further deepen ties between the governments, economies, and peoples of both countries." It also announced that he plans to hold bilateral talks with President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, respectively.

Regarding the purpose of the visit, it explained, "It will reinforce the Biden administration's firm commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and to South Korea and Japan, which are connected by mutual defense treaties." The term "free and open Indo-Pacific" is used by the U.S. administration to emphasize containment of China.

President Biden is reported to visit South Korea first on the 20th, participate in the South Korea-U.S. summit on the 21st, and then move to Japan on the 22nd.

This is the first time in 29 years that a U.S. president visits South Korea before the South Korean president visits the U.S. In July 1993, 29 years ago, former President Bill Clinton visited South Korea and met former President Kim Young-sam, after which South Korean presidents have always visited the U.S. first.

It is also notable that South Korea is the first stop of the U.S. president’s first overseas trip. In 2002, former President George W. Bush traveled in the order of Japan, South Korea, and China; in 2009, former President Barack Obama visited Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea; and in 2017, former President Donald Trump traveled in the order of Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

This can be interpreted as the Biden administration placing significant weight on the South Korea-U.S. alliance. It is paying close attention to North Korean issues such as intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches and preemptive nuclear strikes.

Additionally, since it is difficult for South Korea, caught between the U.S. and China, to directly attend the Quad summit, some analysts suggest that President Biden’s visit to South Korea before attending the Quad summit is intended to clearly position the anti-China camp.

Furthermore, since President Biden will host the Organization of American States (OAS) summit with 35 participating countries in the U.S. starting June 6, it is possible that he judged that a schedule touring Japan starting earlier in May would be too demanding.

Meanwhile, President-elect Yoon will hold a summit with the U.S. president just 11 days after his inauguration, the shortest period in history.

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