[Asia Economy Reporters Inho Yoo and Jieun Lee] Jeong Eui-yong, the nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on the 21st, "I will do my best to properly conclude the diplomatic policies pursued by the Moon Jae-in administration and to ensure that the Korean Peninsula peace process takes root."
Foreign Minister nominee Chung Eui-yong arrived at the Dorim Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where his office has been set up, on the 21st and responded to questions from the press. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
His statement on his first day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is interpreted as showing a strong determination to establish the Korean Peninsula peace process. He was appointed as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs by President Moon Jae-in the day before, taking on the task of producing diplomatic achievements in the latter half of the Moon administration while adapting to the variable of the new U.S. administration's inauguration.
On the morning of the same day, as he arrived at the office set up near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Doryeom-dong, Seoul, Jeong told reporters, "Because our diplomatic environment is difficult, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility," naming the establishment of the Korean Peninsula peace process as his top priority.
First, Jeong will begin preparations for the National Assembly confirmation hearing starting that day. It is expected that during the hearing, he will reveal his plans regarding North Korea policy, solutions to the deadlocked Korea-Japan relations, South Korea's role amid U.S.-China conflicts, the Korea-U.S. alliance, and the conclusion of the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost-sharing.
In diplomatic circles, the replacement of the foreign minister timed with the inauguration of the Biden administration is interpreted as a move to comprehensively review policies including Korea-U.S. relations, the Korean Peninsula peace process, and economic and trade policies.
The government is expected to pursue practical benefits in areas such as North Korea, diplomacy, and trade by building a close relationship with the U.S. administration centered on Jeong during the remaining term. It is said that the 'showmanship' elements characteristic of former President Donald Trump's era will be excluded.
However, the fact that significant changes are anticipated in all fields including South Korea's diplomacy, security, trade, and economy in the Biden era presents a challenge for Jeong.
President Biden is expected to reverse most of the diplomatic and trade policies pursued by Trump over the past four years, engaging in what is called 'erasing Trump.' The retreat of overt America First policies and the restoration of the value of traditional alliances are expected to have a positive effect on South Korea.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to predict whether the situation will unfold according to South Korea's intentions. Since the Biden administration has already expressed its intention to comprehensively review existing approaches and policies toward North Korea, it is highly likely that the U.S. will not relinquish leadership in Korean Peninsula policy.
On the 19th (local time), Tony Blinken, the nominee for Secretary of State, stated during his confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate that "one of the first things will be to review the overall approach" regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, reflecting this situation.
This is interpreted as an intention to analyze the 'top-down' approach of the Trump administration's Singapore Agreement, the process of achieving the February 29 agreement during the Obama administration, and the reasons for its failure, in order to devise a new negotiation model.
Accordingly, experts diagnose that Jeong and other diplomatic authorities need to maintain a more cautious stance in future consultations with the U.S.
Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy advised, "Unlike the Trump administration, which lacked diplomatic experience, the Biden administration is filled with experts on North Korea and Korea-U.S. relations. Jeong, who is a career diplomat, should focus on the 'essence of give-and-take diplomacy' rather than simply expressing our hopes as in the past."
Some also point out that Jeong should focus on strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance rather than being fixated on tangible achievements in inter-Korean relations.
Since President Biden pursues substantive progress such as arms control rather than dialogue with North Korea, it is argued that a strategic revision of the Korean Peninsula peace process approach, which expects progress based on the momentum of resuming North Korea-U.S. talks, is necessary.
Park Jong-cheol, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, "The Biden administration prioritizes the Korea-U.S. alliance over North Korea-U.S. dialogue, so Jeong and the government's diplomatic stance should change accordingly. Jeong, who led the peace agreement in 2018, must act with the understanding that the situation is completely different now."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
