First Summit Partners After Inauguration Show '4 Colors'... Yoon & Ahn Say "Biden," Lee Says "Depends on Situation," Ahn Says "Kim Jong-un"

4-Party Presidential Candidates Terrestrial Broadcaster Debate

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] The presidential candidates of the four major parties gave different answers regarding whom they would hold their first summit with after taking office. Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the People's Party's presidential candidate, said they would prioritize a summit with the United States. Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party's presidential candidate, said North Korea, while Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, said he would "align it with the most useful timing."

At a joint debate hosted by the three terrestrial broadcasters on the 3rd, the candidates expressed their positions on whom they would meet first among U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Candidate Sim said, "I hope North Korea does not misjudge, and dialogue should take priority. Based on the 2018 Singapore Agreement, urgent North Korea-U.S. talks are needed," adding, "If I become president, I will first hold a South-North summit and then a South Korea-U.S. summit based on that, and if necessary, propose solutions to the moratorium situation through a four-party summit."

Candidate Lee said, "There is no need to meet the U.S. first, China first, or North Korea first," and added, "It is important to consult according to the situation and meet the most useful and efficient counterpart at the most efficient timing."

Candidate Yoon said, "If I were to set the order, it would be the U.S. president, the Japanese prime minister, President Xi, and Chairman Kim in that order," and added, "During the Democratic Party's administration, there was overly pro-China and pro-North Korea submissive diplomacy. Restoring the South Korea-U.S. diplomacy, which has collapsed, is a priority."

Candidate Ahn said, "The South Korea-U.S. alliance is the most important," and added, "After that, the order would be China, North Korea, and Japan."