Jeju Peace Institute

The inauguration of the conservative Trump administration has raised both expectations and concerns that it would establish an East Asia policy different from that of the Obama administration and even from the conventional policies of the Republican Party. Amid the anticipation of a fundamental change in the foreign policies of the U.S., the basic line of the Trump administration is seen as based on its judgement that the Obama administration failed to safeguard U.S. interests and check the rise of China. The Trump administration also hinted at strong measures to secure both its security and economic interests in East Asia. It also indicated adamant posture against the nuclear arms and missile development by North Korea amid its confrontation with China. The aggressive posture to resort to military response to the nuclear threats of the North amid the shift from neo-isolationism to U.S.-first policy posed a major threat to the Korean peninsula during the early days of the Trump presidency. At the same time, the U.S. demanded renegotiation on Free Trade Agreement with Korea to redress its trade deficits with the East Asian countries. The FTA emerged as a major issue between Korea and the U.S. as the Trump administration pushed aggressively for renegotiation of its terms — the opposition of the American industrial sector notwithstanding — as to boost employment and productivity. The alliance between the two countries is also challenged by many issues, including denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The U.S. implements comprehensive sanctions against North Korea, including secondary boycott, for denuclearization of the North, which requires the cooperation of the Moon Jae-in government of Korea. For its part, Korea needs to regain the wartime operational control of South Korean forces, establish “kill chain,” the Korea air and missile defense system, as well as deploy the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system, and build nuclear-powered submarines to respond to the threats of North Korea. It should also take joints steps with Japan and the U.S. after settling certain pending issues, such as the military information exchange pact with Japan and comfort women.

목차

YI Seong-Woo (Chair of Conflict Resolution Program, Jeju Peace Institute)