US Ambassador: "Yoon's Forward-Looking Decision Led to ROK-US-Japan Agreement"

"Decision Leading to Improvement in Korea-Japan Relations Enables Agreement"
Emphasizes 'Commitment' Not Obligation in Korea-US-Japan Trilateral Talks
"Trilateral Talks Will Not Replace Bilateral Alliances"
On Contaminated Water Discharge: "Korea-US Positions Aligned... Satisfied"

Amid the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit at Camp David that elevated the level of security cooperation among the three countries, Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, praised President Yoon Seok-yeol's decisive leadership. This is interpreted as meaning that President Yoon's judgment, which led to the improvement of South Korea-Japan relations, also brought about the trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

On the 23rd, Ambassador Goldberg met with reporters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the ambassador's residence in Jung-gu, Seoul, and said, "President Yoon Seok-yeol's role in leading the improvement of South Korea-Japan relations was remarkable," adding, "He made everything in this agreement process possible." He particularly recalled President Yoon's mention of South Korea-Japan relations in his Liberation Day speech last year, saying, "It was President Yoon's decision that led to various developments afterward."

Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea, is holding a meeting with the Korean Foreign Ministry press corps at the ambassador's residence in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Ambassador Goldberg's assessment suggests that the recent 'Camp David Agreement,' comparable to U.S.-led Indo-Pacific security frameworks such as the Quad (QUAD) and AUKUS, originated from President Yoon's efforts to drive the improvement of South Korea-Japan relations since his inauguration. He said, "A forward-looking perspective and leadership will also help resolve historical issues between the two countries."

Ambassador Goldberg continued, "(The trilateral consultations) do not interfere with or harm the bilateral alliances with our two most important allies, South Korea and Japan," emphasizing, "The alliances between the U.S. and these two countries are ironclad, and our commitment to extended deterrence remains strong."

When asked whether the trilateral consultations are an 'obligation' or a 'commitment,' he replied, "We have consistently maintained the term 'commitment to consultations,'" defining it as "a political agreement rather than a legally binding document." He stressed, "Extended deterrence on the Korean Peninsula will not be affected, and various aspects of the bilateral alliances are neither replaced nor influenced by the trilateral talks," which appears to address criticisms that South Korea might become a 'subordinate partner' in the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Regarding the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, he stated, "South Korea and the U.S. share the same position." He explained, "We believe Japan has followed a scientifically accepted global process regarding the discharge of Fukushima contaminated water and are satisfied with that," adding, "Japan will carry out the discharge over the next 30 years." On the issue of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, he acknowledged, "We recognize it as a very painful and tragic ordeal that occurred during Japan's colonial era."

Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea, is holding a meeting with the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs press corps at the ambassador's residence in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Ambassador Goldberg, who was unable to attend the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit held in the U.S. last week due to health reasons, held a briefing to explain the significance of the Camp David Agreement and related matters.

He evaluated, "This agreement covers almost all important issues for modern 21st-century countries, such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum mechanics, supply chains, and the advancement of women's rights," adding, "These are fields where combining our strengths can yield better results than working alone." Regarding North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations, he said, "If South Korea, the U.S., and Japan cooperate, we can respond more effectively," and noted, "It includes measures for the safety and well-being of the peoples of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, similar to years of joint military exercises."

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