| South
Korea’s top diplomat has barely been able to get his feet under the
desk. The new liberal administration of President Lee Jae Myung took
office just weeks ago following victory in June elections. But the
country’s new Foreign Minister Cho Hyun journeyed to Washington last
week at a delicate moment in the relationship between the United States
and one of its closest Asian allies. Lee’s
government was plunged immediately into trade negotiations with the
U.S. to head off President Donald Trump’s self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline
for stiff U.S. tariffs. It also has to forge clear understandings with
the White House over U.S. commitments to Asia, including its significant
and historic troop deployment on the Korean Peninsula. And it has to
balance U.S. concerns about China with Lee’s own more “pragmatic” view
of dealings with Beijing, which are less hawkish than right-wing
predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol. The latter was impeached after declaring
martial law in December, a move that triggered mass protests and a
rolling political crisis from which South Korea is only now emerging. Cho’s
visit to Washington coincided with Trump announcing the framework of a
trade deal with South Korea, ahead of potential meetings with Lee later
this month. Trump said South Korean imports will face a 15 percent
tariff rate instead of the threatened 25 percent rate and that the
country will invest $350 billion in the U.S., directed by the White
House, plus purchase $100 billion in American energy. Cho, a veteran
diplomat, cast the emerging deal — which may see South Korean
shipbuilding companies expand U.S. operations and confers “most-favored
nation” treatment to South Korean semiconductors and pharmaceuticals —
as a victory. We spoke Friday on trade, geopolitics and the road ahead.
The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity. Q:
I’ve heard a lot from diplomats from other U.S. allies who feel bullied
and blindsided by Trump’s trade approach. Do you feel shaken down by
Trump? A: Korea was not
singled out to rebalance the trade imbalance. We know that the U.S.
government, Trump, wanted to reduce the trade imbalance, and we came up
with this idea of a win-win proposal. Yes, we can reduce [our] trade
surplus, but at the same time, we can remain at the top of a number of
manufacturing areas. We believe it is extremely important for us and for
the United States as well because of geopolitical challenges we have in
Northeast Asia. Q: Were there
red lines that Lee’s government had when it came to the negotiations
with the United States, and did you have to bend on any of these red
lines? A: I am aware of some
details of our position, but I’d rather not talk about it. It’s better
to enjoy your sausage without getting into the process of making
sausage. Q:
You mentioned geopolitical challenges. That’s an understatement,
considering your neighborhood. There’s expanding North Korean-Russian
cooperation, Japan has one of its weakest governments in decades
politically, and then there’s the challenge posed by China. How do you
navigate this? A: I once joked
at a farewell dinner with ambassadors that, well, if the planet were an
airplane, the captain in the cockpit would be saying: ‘Fasten your seat
belt. We are going through turbulence.’ Because
of the new challenges started by Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine in
February 2022, we have entered into a totally different security
environment. In the meantime, North Korea has developed its missile
technologies and hoarded more nuclear weapons. As if this was not
enough, Russia invited North Korea to the field. Over 10,000 soldiers
have been sent to the west, and they have concluded a military alliance
agreement. We’ve been worried whether
Russian military technology would be transmitted to North Korea in
return for these soldiers and some materiel they wanted to have. In
Northeast Asia, we have another problem of China becoming somewhat
problematic with its neighbors. We have seen what China has been doing
in the South China Sea and in the Yellow Sea. Economically, yes, China
has developed so well, so fast, that it has become a competitor. Q: What would the correct approach to China be? A:
We have become rather alert to China’s rise and its challenges. But we
will try to send a message to China: ‘We want to maintain a good
relationship, and [see] you abide by international law in not only
bilateral, but in regional affairs.’ We will, in that sense, cooperate
with Japan as well — that’s the reason I traveled to Japan on the way to
the United States, and I met with the foreign minister and prime
minister. I talked about the new challenges we are facing in the region.
But at the same time, I noted the need for engaging China, because
simply trying to block China will not be as effective as we want. Q: Is that a message you also delivered here in Washington to your American counterparts? A: I’ve emphasized that all of these things will be in good collaboration with our ally, the United States. Q:
There’s been a lot of speculation about the future of U.S. forces
deployed in South Korea under the Trump administration. What can you
tell us about the conversations you’ve had? A:
We are talking with the United States, but there is no concern about
the U.S. forces in Korea. We believe that they will remain as such and
their role will remain as of today. Q: So if there was a reduction of forces, what would that mean for the U.S.-South Korea relationship? A:
It’s a hypothetical question, but I don’t think it will happen. I have
met a number of senators this time, and they all have assured me that it
will not be the case. Q: Your
government came to power in elections that followed a huge political
crisis last year in Seoul. What are your takeaways from that experience? A:
I was able to witness the prowess of young people when they all came
out to the street against the martial law in December. And I was really
surprised that they were in a strangely happy mood to call for the
country to re-establish democracy. I also have an experience of
attending demonstrations in the late ’70s. But we were at the time
student fighters. Now, these are not fighters. They were simply in a
festive mood, but knew their rights and were very determined to rectify
the wrongdoings of the government. So I was really impressed with the
way they were demonstrating. Q:
That’s interesting. At a time when liberal democracy seems in crisis in
many parts of the world, are there lessons South Korea can offer to the
rest of us? A: Let them seek
what they can learn from us. But it’s better for all the countries to
try to stay at the center, not to go to an extreme. Yes, [polarization]
has been abetted by new technologies. But I have learned that it’s
better to try to come back to the center and let [rival camps] speak to
each other. Q: A wave of U.S.
allies are poised to recognize a Palestinian state. South Korea is one
of the few outliers in Asia in so far not recognizing a state of
Palestine. Will that policy change? A:
It’s difficult to say. We are now absorbed in ourselves, but we will
certainly look at the developments in the region and also at the United
Nations. But again, we feel that we are vulnerable in the changing
situation in Northeast Asia, and frankly speaking, we do not have the
luxury of looking at things that have been happening in other regions of
the world. |