Kurt Campbell, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, said on the 24th (local time) that President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio should be recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize in relation to the Camp David Korea-U.S.-Japan summit and the improvement of Korea-Japan relations.
Deputy Secretary Campbell mentioned the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit during a discussion at the Washington think tank Hudson Institute, stating, "The determination of the two leaders of Korea and Japan to overcome historical issues was truly remarkable."
He said, "The Nobel Peace Prize does not focus much on the Indo-Pacific, but if you ask me who truly deserves to bring about significant change on the international stage and receive the award, I would say these two leaders."
Deputy Secretary Campbell added, "President Biden was also deeply involved, but his goal was to step back and support them, with the focus on the Korea and Japan leaders." He continued, "As a result of the Camp David summit, the U.S. has been able to play a role and have a voice in Korea-Japan relations, which it had previously neglected," and added, "From this point, we are prepared to quietly intervene if anything harmful occurs in the trilateral relationship."
Regarding concerns that negative public opinion toward Korea-Japan relations is rising due to the opposition party's landslide victory in South Korea's April 10 general election, he said, "There are also many polls supporting the improvement of Korea-Japan relations," and added, "There is a need to take more direct measures to highlight these achievements, and the U.S. is also moving away from its past passive stance and conducting many behind-the-scenes discussions related to the trilateral relationship."
On the nuclear threats in the Indo-Pacific region, he mentioned China's nuclear capability expansion, North Korea's provocations, Russia's potential use of nuclear weapons, and trust in the U.S. deterrence capabilities. Specifically about North Korea, he pointed out, "In the past, North Korea sometimes took such actions to engage in talks with the U.S. or other countries, but now it seems certain that they have decided to strengthen and refine their capabilities," and added, "North Korea's increasing provocations are concerning not only in Northeast Asia but also in other regions."
Regarding the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and the possibility of Korean and Japanese companies being affected, he stated, "We are directly engaging with Korean and Japanese companies to address this issue and are trying to convey our understanding and concerns."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
