Moon Jung-in: "If South Korea Joins Anti-China Military Drills, China Will Consider It an Enemy"

US Holds Negative View on 'Quad Plus' Initiative
"If China Targets Missiles at Korea, Can the US Protect Us?"
"The Declaration of the End of War Is an Entrance, Not an Exit"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Moon Jung-in, Special Advisor to the President for Unification, Foreign Affairs, and Security, claimed that if South Korea participates in the U.S.'s anti-China military exercises, China will regard South Korea as an enemy.

Special Advisor Moon made these remarks on the 26th (local time) during a virtual seminar jointly hosted by the Korea East Asia Foundation and the U.S. Atlantic Council.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He said that from South Korea's perspective, the U.S. is its primary ally while China is a strategic economic partner, adding, "Our priority is the U.S., but at the same time, we have some concerns." He expressed worry, saying, "If the U.S. forces us to join an anti-China military alliance, I believe this will become an existential dilemma for South Korea."

He stated that if South Korea deploys additional THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) systems or medium-range ballistic missiles aimed at China, or joins military exercises in areas such as the South China Sea, "China will regard South Korea as an enemy."

Special Advisor Moon also mentioned specific expected Chinese responses. He predicted that China would target South Korea with Dongfeng missiles and carry out military provocations not only in the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) but also in the West Sea.

Regarding this, he questioned, "How can we respond to this? Will the U.S. try to protect us, and will it be able to do so?"

He further noted, "China will strengthen the 'Northern Tripartite Alliance System,' which includes Russia and North Korea," expressing concern that although China has not provided military forces, weapons, or logistics support to North Korea since 1958, it may resume such support, including oil supplies.

Special Advisor Moon emphasized again, "In this case, the nuclear as well as conventional threats from North Korea will increase," and asked, "How can we respond to such a dilemma?"

He also raised economic issues, stating that South Korean companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, would suffer, and stressed, "I highly doubt whether the Moon Jae-in administration would accept such a choice."

Special Advisor Moon also expressed the view that a declaration to formally end the Korean War should serve as the starting point to promote North Korea's denuclearization and the overall peace process on the Korean Peninsula. He mentioned, "Who knows if adopting a declaration to end the war could lead to improved North Korea-U.S. relations and produce much better outcomes?"

He stated that even if a declaration to end the war is adopted, there will be no change in the status of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and North Korea will have no room to interfere with the status of U.S. forces in Korea. He added, "If North Korea insists on this, the declaration to end the war might not be adopted."

Meanwhile, Mark Naeper, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, emphasized the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance during the seminar, stating that the door to diplomacy with North Korea remains open and that the U.S. is ready to meet anytime and anywhere, emphasizing the importance of resolving issues through dialogue.

He referred to the three North Korea-U.S. summits, saying, "We have also continuously emphasized that the door to diplomacy is open and that we are ready to sit down with North Korea anytime and anywhere."

Regarding the role of the South Korea-U.S. alliance in resolving North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, Deputy Assistant Secretary Naeper stressed, "It is very important that our two countries do their best to coordinate and move forward together."