Possibility of the First South Korea-US Summit Since President Biden...Expectations for Discussions on Various Issues Including Korean Peninsula Policy
[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Lee Ji-eun] The upcoming World Climate Summit in the United States this April is expected to be the first watershed moment for setting the direction of the new U.S. administration's policy on the Korean Peninsula and coordinating positions between South Korea and the U.S.
According to the Blue House on the 5th, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joe Biden, who had their first phone call the day before, agreed to schedule a summit depending on the COVID-19 situation. Considering the current COVID-19 trends in the U.S., the prevailing view is that it will be difficult to set a date for the summit in the near future.
Given this, the World Climate Summit scheduled for April 22 is highly likely to take place before the South Korea-U.S. summit, potentially serving as the venue for the first meeting between the two leaders. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has announced plans to attend the World Climate Summit.
The Blue House is being reserved in its statements but is keeping open the possibility of President Moon’s attendance. A senior Blue House official explained, "It might be communicated later through diplomatic channels, but this issue was not raised during the (April 4) South Korea-U.S. leaders’ phone call."
The World Climate Summit is an event strongly promoted by President Biden. It signifies that leaders from around the world will gather in the U.S. to address climate change. President Moon is also putting significant effort into climate change response. This adds weight to the possibility of President Moon’s visit to the U.S. in April and a South Korea-U.S. summit meeting.
This could also serve as an opportunity to resolve questions surrounding denuclearization and peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula. Although the Blue House stated that the South Korea-U.S. alliance was upgraded through this leaders’ phone call, concerns about the ‘gap’ regarding North Korea issues have not been fully resolved.
It is also notable that the Blue House’s announcement did not include the keyword ‘Korean Peninsula Peace Process.’ The content of the leaders’ call, stating "there is a need to promptly develop a comprehensive North Korea strategy together," ironically reveals the reality that coordination is still needed on Korean Peninsula policy.
Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "Issues such as the South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing agreement and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, as well as Northeast Asian regional issues, will be the main topics of the summit. Discussions on joining the multilateral security consultative group ‘Quad’ may also take place, but given President Biden’s disposition, no coercive demands are expected."
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