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Korea Herald
22 minutes ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Lee, Trump likely to outline ‘alliance modernization,' defer details
The leaders of South Korea and the United States are expected to agree in principle to 'modernize the alliance' at their upcoming summit, amid a shifting regional security environment, while deferring key details to lower-level negotiations, according to officials in Seoul familiar with the matter. Seoul and Washington have been gearing up for the first in-person summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump, widely anticipated to take place in Washington later this month. The summit is poised to address a wide range of agenda items centered on two key pillars: security and foreign affairs — with a focus on alliance modernization and the North Korea nuclear issue — and trade, particularly tariffs. The allies have been engaged in working-level talks in preparation for the summit. However, due to time constraints, Lee and Trump are expected to announce only a broad agreement in principle on alliance modernization at the summit, according to a diplomatic source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The alliance modernization agenda had taken a back seat to the trade deal finalized on July 30, which had commanded the allies' primary attention. Seoul and Washington have been in discussion on how to modernize their alliance, with the aim of strengthening its capabilities and military readiness amid an evolving regional security environment. However, the allies held only one round of working-level talks on the issue — director general-level consultations held on July 10 and 11 in Seoul. Trump and Lee are largely expected to echo a principle agreed upon in a joint statement following the two-day working-level negotiations: "to strengthen the US-ROK Alliance into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance, and to modernize the Alliance in a mutually beneficial manner in the face of an evolving regional security environment." The ROK refers to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. Alliance modernization gains focus The 'alliance modernization' agenda, first proposed by the Trump administration and reflecting key US interests and demands, encompasses a wide range of issues that could bring significant changes not only to the combined defense architecture of the alliance, but also to the broader security landscape on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region. Alliance modernization includes adjustments to the size and role of US Forces Korea, an increase in South Korea's defense spending, and an expanded leading role for Seoul in addressing threats from North Korea — with the US increasingly shifting its focus toward countering threats stemming from China. In particular, any adjustments to the size and role of US Forces Korea require careful consideration, as they are closely linked to the new US National Defense Strategy and the Global Posture Review — both expected to be completed between late summer and autumn. While the concept of 'strategic flexibility' for US Forces Korea was agreed upon by the allies in 2006, The Korea Herald has learned that Seoul recognizes the need for deeper discussions — based on the existing agreement — in light of the evolving regional security environment. In the 2006 agreement, Seoul agreed to respect the "necessity for strategic flexibility of the US forces," and Washington agreed to respect the "ROK position that it shall not be involved in a regional conflict in Northeast Asia against the will of the Korean people" in the implementation of strategic flexibility. Unlike other alliance modernization-related issues, South Korea's defense spending is likely to take center stage at the summit due to Trump's interest, with remaining items likely deferred to working-level talks, according to the source. The Korea Herald also learned from sources that the allies have been discussing the scope of alliance modernization. South Korea believes alliance modernization should not necessarily be confined to the military domain and could expand into other sectors, including technological cooperation. The US is also said to share this understanding. Allies differ on US Forces Korea As the allies prepare for the first Trump-Lee summit, public remarks by high-ranking officials have shown discrepancies over troop levels and the mandate of US Forces Korea. South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun dismissed the possibility of changes to the size and role of US Forces Korea. 'We are talking with the United States, but there is no concern about the US forces in Korea. We believe that they will remain as such and their role will remain as of today,' Cho said in an interview with The Washington Post published Sunday. However, US Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby suggested that Seoul should take greater responsibility in countering North Korean threats and reiterated Washington's call for increased defense spending. "South Korea continues to be a role model in its willingness to take more of the lead in a strong defense against the DPRK and in its spending on defense," Colby said on Aug. 1 on his official X account, following the first phone call between the defense chiefs of the allies on July 30. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We and the ROK are closely aligned on the need to modernize the Alliance in response to the regional security environment," Colby added. "We will work closely with Seoul to ensure a strategically sustainable Alliance that is ready to defend against shared threats."
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Lee, Trump likely to defer details on ‘alliance modernization'
South Korea and the United States are expected to agree at their upcoming summit on a broad principle to 'modernize the alliance' amid an evolving regional security environment, while leaving key details to future working-level talks, according to officials in Seoul familiar with the matter. Seoul and Washington have been gearing up for the first in-person summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump, widely anticipated to take place in the US later this month. The summit is poised to address a wide range of agenda items centered on two key pillars: security and foreign affairs — with a focus on alliance modernization and the North Korean nuclear issue — and trade, particularly tariffs. The allies have been engaged in working-level talks in preparation for the summit. However, due to time constraints, Lee and Trump are expected to announce only a broad agreement in principle on alliance modernization at the summit, according to a diplomatic source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The alliance modernization agenda had taken a back seat to the trade deal finalized on July 30, which had commanded the allies' primary attention. Seoul and Washington have been in discussion on how to modernize their alliance, with the aim of strengthening its capabilities and readiness posture amid an evolving regional security environment. However, the allies held only one round of working-level talks on the issue — director general-level consultations held on July 10 and 11 in Seoul. Trump and Lee are largely expected to echo the principle, which was agreed upon in a joint statement following the two-day working-level negotiations: "to strengthen the US-ROK Alliance into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance, and to modernize the Alliance in a mutually beneficial manner in the face of an evolving regional security environment." The ROK refers to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. Alliance modernization gains focus The "alliance modernization" agenda, first proposed by the Trump administration and reflecting key US interests and demands, encompasses a wide range of issues that could bring significant changes not only to the South Korea–US alliance but also to the broader security landscape on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region. Alliance modernization includes adjustments to the size and role of US Forces Korea, an increase in South Korea's defense spending, and an expanded leading role for Seoul in addressing threats from North Korea — with the US increasingly shifting its focus toward countering threats stemming from China. In particular, any adjustments to the size and role of US Forces Korea require careful consideration, as they are closely linked to the new US National Defense Strategy and the Global Posture Review — both expected to be completed between late summer and autumn. While the concept of 'strategic flexibility' for US Forces Korea was agreed upon by the allies in 2006, The Korea Herald has learned that Seoul recognizes the need for deeper discussions — based on the existing agreement — in light of the evolving regional security environment. In the 2006 agreement, Seoul agreed to respect the "necessity for strategic flexibility of the US forces the ROK," and Washington agreed to respect the "ROK position that it shall not be involved in a regional conflict in Northeast Asia against the will of the Korean people" in the implementation of strategic flexibility. Unlike other alliance modernization-related issues, South Korea's defense spending is expected to take center stage at the summit due to Trump's interest, with remaining items likely deferred to working-level talks, according to the source. The Korea Herald also learned from sources that the allies have been discussing the scope of alliance modernization. South Korea believes alliance modernization should not necessarily be confined to the military domain and could expand into other sectors, including technological cooperation. The US is also said to share this understanding. Allies differ on US Forces Korea As the allies prepare for the first Trump-Lee summit, public remarks by high-ranking officials have showed discrepancies over troop levels and the mandate of US Forces Korea. South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun dismissed the possibility of changes to the size and role of US Forces Korea. 'We are talking with the United States, but there is no concern about the US forces in Korea. We believe that they will remain as such and their role will remain as of today,' Cho said in an interview with The Washington Post published Sunday. However, US Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby suggested that Seoul should take greater responsibility in countering North Korean threats and reiterated Washington's call for increased defense spending. "South Korea continues to be a role model in its willingness to take more of the lead in a strong defense against the DPRK and in its spending on defense," Colby said on Aug. 1 on his official X account, following the first phone call between the defense chiefs of the allies on July 30. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We and the ROK are closely aligned on the need to modernize the Alliance in response to the regional security environment," Colby added. "We will work closely with Seoul to ensure a strategically sustainable Alliance that is ready to defend against shared threats."
Korea Herald
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Hegseth voices desire to ensure 'strategically sustainable' S. Korea-US alliance: Pentagon
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his desire to ensure that the South Korea-US alliance is "strategically sustainable" and the allies' defense posture contributes to deterrence against "shared threats" as he spoke by phone with his South Korean counterpart on Wednesday, the Pentagon said. Hegseth had the first phone talks with Seoul's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back since Ahn's inauguration last week, amid expectations that the Trump administration will request Asian allies to raise their defense spending and undertake greater security burden in the face of an increasingly assertive China. "The secretary expressed his desire to work together to ensure that the US-ROK Alliance is strategically sustainable and that our combined posture on the (Korean) Peninsula credibly contributes to deterrence against shared threats," the Pentagon said in a readout. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. "The secretary stressed the need for continuing close consultations, and looks forward to meeting Minister Ahn in person during the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting," it added, referring to the annual defense ministerial talks expected to take place in Seoul this fall. The call came as Seoul and Washington face a series of alliance cooperation issues, including joint efforts to counter North Korea's advancing nuclear and ballistic missile threats and the role of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea amid speculation that Washington might seek to align the bilateral alliance with the Trump administration's security priorities. The Pentagon has been working on crafting its National Defense Strategy with a focus on increasing allies' "burden sharing" and deterring what it calls the "pacing threat" from China. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
World leaders congratulate Lee Jae-myung on election win
Opposition in Seoul criticizes delayed first phone call with Trump President Lee Jae-myung's victory on Tuesday prompted a wave of congratulatory messages from around the world, but his political opponents in Seoul noted that the customary Day One phone call with the US president was delayed. The latest statement from the presidential spokesperson, Kang Yu-jung, did not mention when Lee's first phone call with US President Donald Trump might take place. On Thursday, Kang said the South Korean president's call with Trump was being arranged, adding that factors like different time zones had to be put into consideration. Some within the opposition in Seoul pointed out that past South Korean presidents usually held the first over-the-phone talks with their US counterparts on the day they assumed office, if not the day after. "I think there are two possibilities at play. One is that Washington seems to have doubts about where the new South Korean president stands on China," People Power Party Rep. Ihn Yohan, on the National Assembly's foreign committee, told The Korea Herald. "The other is that trade talks with other countries are a bit stalled, and being given a priority. We hope it is the latter." The White House's statement on Lee's presidential win on Wednesday included an unusual mention of China. "The US-ROK Alliance remains ironclad. While South Korea had a free and fair election, the United States remains concerned and opposed to Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world," the statement said, according to Reuters. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended a more neutral congratulations. "We congratulate President Lee Jae-myung on his election as the next president of the Republic of Korea," he said. Rubio said the two allies "share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defense Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties." Rubio also highlighted continuity of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, Japan and the US and building on shared values. "We will also continue to deepen US-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and build our shared democratic principles," he said. More well wishes came in from US Congress members. Sen. Bill Hagerty on Friday congratulated Lee on his win via social platform Twitter. "As a senator and former US ambassador to Japan, I look forward to working with Seoul to continue strengthening the US-ROK Alliance and the US-ROK-Japan trilateral strategic partnership," the Republican senator said. The US Congressional Korea Caucus issued a statement Wednesday and said they looked forward to "working together with President Lee Jae-myung and his administration during this critical time for the alliance." "We also wish to recognize the estimated 2 million Korean Americans throughout the United States who play a vital role in maintaining our strong bilateral relationship," the Korea Caucus statement said. Key regional neighbors including China and Japan congratulated Lee soon after his election was called. Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing places a "high priority on its relationship with Seoul, and is ready to work closely with the incoming administration to deepen bilateral ties." Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, calling Lee's win a "reflection of the will of the Korean people," said he hoped for "renewed relations after years of strain between the two countries." "It is in our mutual interest to work closely together on issues of security, historical reconciliation and regional stability," he said. Lee also received congratulations from Taiwan. President Lai Ching-te extended "sincerest congratulations to the people of the Republic of Korea and President Lee," according to the Taiwanese president's spokesperson Karen Kuo. Kuo said Lai hoped to "deepen bilateral relations" with Seoul, and "jointly help contribute to democracy, peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region." Over the campaign, Lee said he would take a "pragmatic approach" in dealing with both China and Taiwan in a possible contingency.
The Print
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
White House calls South Korea election ‘fair,' expresses concern about Chinese influence
'The US-ROK Alliance remains ironclad. While South Korea had a free and fair election, the United States remains concerned and opposed to Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world,' a White House official said in an emailed response to a Reuters request for comment made at an earlier White House briefing. By Jeff Mason, David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House said on Tuesday that South Korea's election, which saw liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung win the presidency, was fair, but it expressed concern about Chinese interference. The official did not elaborate on the reference to alleged Chinese interference or connect it directly to the South Korean election. In recent days, however, right-wing allies of U.S. President Donald Trump have taken aim at Lee, who has spoken of the need to balance Seoul's relations with China and the United States. Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has jockeyed her way up from online agitator to self-appointed Trump adviser, posted 'RIP South Korea' on X on Tuesday after Lee's victory became clear. 'The communists have taken over Korea and won the Presidential election today,' she wrote. 'This is terrible,' she added. Loomer has shown herself to be highly influential: Several high-ranking White House officials were fired this year after she presented Trump with a list of national security staffers she perceived to be disloyal. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement congratulating Lee, and like the White House spoke about the two countries' alliance, also calling it 'ironclad.' He made no mention of concerns about China. 'The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defense Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties,' Rubio said. 'We are also modernizing the Alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and address new economic challenges.' Rubio also said the United States would continue to deepen trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan, 'to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles.' As South Korea's ousted former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, fought for his political life earlier this year, he raised unsubstantiated claims about possible fraud in South Korea's elections as one reason for his announcement of a martial law decree that had prompted his ouster. His backers adopted 'Stop the Steal' slogans and expressed hopes that Trump would intervene to help, but that never came. Last week, without providing evidence, Trump ally Mike Flynn, a retired general who briefly served as the president's national security adviser during his first term, referred in a post on X to 'signs of fraud' in the South Korea election, and said a fraudulent outcome would only benefit the Chinese Communist Party. Another Trump ally, Steve Bannon, explored a similar theme of Chinese election interference on his WarRoom channel last week. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Josh Smith In Seoul; Editing by Leslie Adler) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
