President Lee Jae-myung said on the 13th that South Korea is "a sovereign, independent state" pursuing "pragmatic diplomacy based on the national interest," and that the country "must avoid a submissive or deferential posture in relations between states." The remarks were read as a clear statement of a self-reliant, pragmatic diplomatic line at a time of growing concern that the Korea-U.S. alliance is under strain, including limits on intelligence sharing.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House, Lee said the alliance with the United States is "very important" but added that "managing relations with neighboring powers also remains important." He went on to stress that "diplomacy must protect the national interest" and that "it is important to minimize differences and keep them within a manageable range." The comments echoed those of Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who said a day earlier that allies "share values but sometimes have conflicting interests."
Lee praised the industry and trade minister and the trade negotiation chief, who are handling investment talks with Washington, saying that "where there are differences or misunderstandings, we must resolve and adjust them." Citing the need for Russian cooperation on the Arctic shipping route, he also said there are "no permanent enemies and no permanent friends."
Lee Says Allies Have Differences, but Ambassador Kang Says U.S. Concerns Remain Unresolved
Lee put the emphasis on self-reliant, pragmatic diplomacy by calling for an end to a submissive posture, but the remarks appear unlikely to quiet concerns about relations with Washington. Troubling signals have continued, with even Kang Kyung-wha, South Korea's ambassador to the United States and the country's front line in dealings with Washington, saying that "consultations with senior White House officials are not happening, to a degree that frustrates even me."
At the Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on the 13th, Lee said South Korea must "always conduct diplomacy that is dignified, that serves only South Korea and protects South Korea's national interest," stressing that "South Korea's diplomatic line is pragmatic diplomacy based on the national interest." He added that "South Korea is a sovereign, independent state."
Appearing mindful of criticism that relations with Washington have shown signs of turbulence, Lee said, "There are bound to be differences between states, and how could countries that each pursue their own national interest always be in agreement?" He described diplomacy as "a process of constant debate, argument and adjustment." On such differences, he said, "What matters is adjusting and compromising on problems out of affection for our country," warning that "if we are careless, situations can arise in which our national interest is sacrificed in the competition of interests between states."
The remarks were also read as rejecting calls that have recently surfaced for a shake-up of the foreign policy and security team. Rep. Maeng Sung-kyu of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaking to Korean correspondents on the 12th during a parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit of the South Korean Embassy in Washington, described the mood within the party by saying, "The president is more likely to back Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok than National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac." The People Power Party has called the alliance "in a state of collapse" and has pointed to the leanings of Chung and Lee as a cause. The president's remarks drew a line under calls to dismiss the two officials, who are described as members of the self-reliance camp.
Ambassador Kang: Limits in Communication With the White House, Senior-Level Talks Frustratingly Scarce; U.S. Raises Intelligence-Sharing Concerns
Warnings have continued, however, that the "differences" Lee referred to are not of the ordinary kind. At the audit, Kang said she would "acknowledge that there are limits to communication with the White House," adding, "We meet frequently with the White House National Security Council and key White House figures, but consultations at the senior level are not taking place as much as we would like, to a degree that frustrates even me."
She also said the U.S. side raised concerns about Korea-U.S. intelligence sharing at a Sept. 18 meeting between Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Kang cited intelligence cooperation between the two countries as the most difficult issue since the announcement of investment in the United States, adding, "I do not think the issue has yet been resolved sufficiently to meet U.S. expectations." The United States has restricted intelligence sharing on North Korea with South Korea since March of this year.
Kang also confirmed that working-level contacts took place between the two sides after a White House official recently told Korean media that "South Korea must uphold the standards of the long-standing Korea-U.S. alliance, particularly in the areas of intelligence and counterintelligence." Asked about assessments that Washington had signaled concerns over trust between the two countries, she said, "I believe there is some awareness of that."
Kang nonetheless stressed that "the commitment and support for the alliance across the U.S. government and public has extraordinarily deep roots." Asked whether Rubio had directly raised the positions of Chung and Lee, she said, "As I recall, there was no mention of specific personnel."
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel, who took up her post in early August, has yet to hold an introductory meeting with Chung. Her predecessors typically met the unification minister within one or two months of arriving. A Unification Ministry official, speaking to reporters at the Government Complex in Seoul on the 13th, said, "No request has come in yet from the U.S. Embassy," adding, "I do not see this as a matter requiring haste."
The ministry maintained that there are no problems in communication between the two countries. The official said the ministry "is in constant communication with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul," explaining that "the head of our unification policy office is meeting with the embassy's minister-counselor, and working-level officials also meet regularly to share relevant issues."