Yoon says "Unshakable Trust in the Ironclad ROK-US Alliance" Despite US Classified Document Leak (Comprehensive)

During his state visit to the United States, President Yoon Suk-yeol recently addressed suspicions of South Korean government wiretapping by U.S. intelligence agencies, stating on the 25th (local time) that "the ironclad trust supporting the ROK-U.S. alliance cannot be shaken." Ahead of the ROK-U.S. summit, President Yoon also emphasized the shared stance between the two countries on maintaining peace and order regarding North Korea's nuclear issue, military support for Ukraine, and the Taiwan Strait situation, signaling a rising momentum to strengthen the alliance.

In an interview with NBC News, President Yoon said, "Since the ROK-U.S. alliance is based on shared values such as freedom, this issue does not provide a reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the alliance," adding, "The strong alliance with the United States has not been damaged by the recent leak issue." The interview took place in Washington D.C. on the 24th local time.

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NBC reported that while President Yoon acknowledged the awkwardness caused by revelations of U.S. spying activities on its allies, he stated, "The bilateral relationship is built on a high level of trust," and "If there is trust, it will not be shaken." Earlier, the Blue House clarified regarding leaked U.S. Department of Defense documents mentioning former National Security Office Chief Kim Sung-han and former Foreign Secretary Lee Moon-hee that "a significant portion of the disclosed information was forged."

President Yoon also clearly stated that providing economic benefits to North Korea without denuclearization is impossible. Regarding South Korea’s provision of economic incentives conditioned on denuclearization, he said expecting a quick deal with North Korea is "unrealistic." He emphasized, "The important thing is to ensure that North Korea never relies on nuclear weapons." As North Korea escalates its nuclear and missile threats, President Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden plan to announce a separate document related to "extended deterrence" at the ROK-U.S. summit on the 26th. The South Korean government is pushing for measures to strengthen the nuclear umbrella, including participation in the operation of U.S. nuclear assets or regular deployment of strategic assets.

Regarding military support for Ukraine, a key agenda item at the ROK-U.S. summit, President Yoon expressed that the situation is being closely monitored. Prior to his visit to the U.S., President Yoon sparked controversy by mentioning the possibility of military support for Ukraine on the condition of large-scale attacks on civilians in an interview with the British news agency Reuters. President Yoon explained, he is not under pressure from the White House to expand support and is "closely monitoring the situation."

On the Taiwan issue, President Yoon reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He reaffirmed South Korea’s opposition to any attempts to change the current situation by force.

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