Choson Sinbo Criticizes South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy as a "Foolish Move Against the Trend"

"The US Unipolar Dominance Is Crumbling"

President Yoon Seok-yeol speaking at the Korea-US-Japan summit Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) criticized South Korea's independent Indo-Pacific strategy declaration as "a proclamation of siding with the United States." Chongryon is a pro-North Korea organization in Japan that claims to be an autonomous body advocating for the rights and freedoms of Korean residents in Japan, but in reality, it is regarded as a vanguard of North Korea.

The Chongryon official newspaper Choson Sinbo evaluated in its gossip column "Echo" on the 16th, in an article titled "South Korean Version of the Indo-Pacific Strategy," that "Japan, soaked to the bone in pro-American subservience, goes without saying, but the recent diplomatic moves of South Korean officials on their Southeast Asia tour are unusual."

It continued, "In the opening remarks of the South Korea-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit held on the 11th, South Korean officials unexpectedly presented 'a free, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region' as South Korea's strategy," adding, "The name is the same as the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at containing China, and its content is consistent with the U.S. strategy."

In particular, it pointed out, "In other words, it is no different from publicly declaring a firm stance on the U.S. side amid U.S.-China conflicts," and harshly criticized, "The U.S.'s unipolar dominance is collapsing, and the world is rapidly changing, but the foolish actions of those who go against the trend are utterly disgusting."

Since North Korea often uses the term "South Korean authorities" when referring to South Korea's president, this appears to refer to President Yoon Seok-yeol. President Yoon unveiled the "Korean version of the Indo-Pacific strategy," with freedom, peace, and prosperity as its three core visions, at the "Korea-ASEAN Summit" held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the 11th.

The newspaper also emphasized, "The South Korean version of the Indo-Pacific strategy is completely at odds with ASEAN's fundamental principles of respecting sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, equality, and mutual respect," adding, "Moreover, ASEAN has clearly expressed its position of not joining the U.S.-China confrontation, as seen in its refusal to participate in the Quad (a security dialogue among the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India)."

It sarcastically added, "Although officials hinted at substantial economic cooperation with ASEAN at the meeting, it must be said that they are way off the mark."

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