Why South Korea's next leader should revive 6-party nuclear talks
South Korea is heading to a presidential election on June 3, triggered by the
impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol after his bungled attempt at martial law.
Lee Jae-myung , leader of the opposition Democratic Party, is a clear front-runner. With the formation of a Lee administration in South Korea looking likely, the United States would have a rare opportunity to explore North Korea's denuclearisation.
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US President Donald Trump has boasted of his close connection to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, with whom he had
summit meetings during his first term. Trump might want to prove himself as a peacemaker and great statesman by resolving the denuclearisation issue. Indeed, Trump has indicated his willingness to meet Kim again: in January, days into his second administration, and again in February and March.
At the same time, South Korea's Lee is widely expected to pursue a
friendlier policy towards North Korea –
and China – than former president Yoon. This would create a favourable environment for denuclearisation.
During the previous Biden administration in the US, Yoon failed to forge a balanced and viable strategy to engage with North Korea. There is a high probability that a Trump-Lee duo could do better on North Korea.
Given Lee's attitude towards China, his government could be positive for the international landscape. China wants to see peace and stability on the
Korean peninsula and to foster economic prosperity across Northeast Asia. More specifically, it needs North Korea as a buffer zone against the US and its allies. That is why North Korea's survival and peace on the Korean Peninsula are important to it.
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