South Korea's new foreign minister Cho Hyun traveled to the United States at a delicate moment between the two countries' relationship.
South Korea's top diplomat has barely been able to get his feet under the desk. The new liberal administration of President Lee Jae Myung took office just weeks ago following victory in June elections. But the country's new Foreign Minister Cho Hyun journeyed to Washington last week at a delicate moment in the relationship between the United States and one of its closest Asian allies.
Lee's government was plunged immediately into trade negotiations with the U.S. to head off President Donald Trump's self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline for stiff U.S. tariffs. It also has to forge clear understandings with the White House over U.S. commitments to Asia, including its significant and historic troop deployment on the Korean Peninsula. And it has to balance U.S. concerns about China with Lee's own more "pragmatic" view of dealings with Beijing, which are less hawkish than right-wing predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol. The latter was impeached after declaring martial law in December, a move that triggered mass protests and a rolling political crisis from which South Korea is only now emerging.
Cho's visit to Washington coincided with Trump announcing the framework of a trade deal with South Korea, ahead of potential meetings with Lee later this month. Trump said South Korean imports will face a 15 percent tariff rate instead of the threatened 25 percent rate and that the country will invest $350 billion in the U.S., directed by the White House, plus purchase $100 billion in American energy. Cho, a veteran diplomat, cast the emerging deal -- which may see South Korean shipbuilding companies expand U.S. operations and confers "most-favored nation" treatment to South Korean semiconductors and pharmaceuticals -- as a victory. We spoke Friday on trade, geopolitics and the road ahead. The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.
I've heard a lot from diplomats from other U.S. allies who feel bullied and blindsided by Trump's trade approach. Do you feel shaken down by Trump?
Korea was not singled out to rebalance the trade imbalance. We know that the U.S. government, Trump, wanted to reduce the trade imbalance, and we came up with this idea of a win-win proposal. Yes, we can reduce [our] trade surplus, but at the same time, we can remain at the top of a number of manufacturing areas. We believe it is extremely important for us and for the United States as well because of geopolitical challenges we have in Northeast Asia.
Were there red lines that Lee's government had when it came to the negotiations with the United States, and did you have to bend on any of these red lines?
I am aware of some details of our position, but I'd rather not talk about it. It's better to enjoy your sausage without getting into the process of making sausage.
You mentioned geopolitical challenges. That's an understatement, considering your neighborhood. There's expanding North Korean-Russian cooperation, Japan has one of its weakest governments in decades politically, and then there's the challenge posed by China. How do you navigate this?
I once joked at a farewell dinner with ambassadors that, well, if the planet were an airplane, the captain in the cockpit would be saying: 'Fasten your seat belt. We are going through turbulence.'
Because of the new challenges started by Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine in February 2022, we have entered into a totally different security environment. In the meantime, North Korea has developed its missile technologies and hoarded more nuclear weapons. As if this was not enough, Russia invited North Korea to the field. Over 10,000 soldiers have been sent to the west, and they have concluded a military alliance agreement.
We've been worried whether Russian military technology would be transmitted to North Korea in return for these soldiers and some materiel they wanted to have. In Northeast Asia, we have another problem of China becoming somewhat problematic with its neighbors. We have seen what China has been doing in the South China Sea and in the Yellow Sea. Economically, yes, China has developed so well so fast that it has become a competitor.
What would the correct approach to China be?
We have become rather alert to China's rise and its challenges. But we will try to send a message to China: 'We want to maintain a good relationship, and [see] you abide by international law in not only bilateral but in regional affairs.' We will, in that sense, cooperate with Japan as well -- that's the reason I traveled to Japan on the way to the United States and I met with the foreign minister and prime minister. I talked about the new challenges we are facing in the region. But at the same time, I noted the need for engaging China because simply trying to block China will not be as effective as we want.
Is that a message you also delivered here in Washington to your American counterparts?
I've emphasized that all of these things will be in good collaboration with our ally, the United States.
There's been a lot of speculation about the future of U.S. forces deployed in South Korea under the Trump administration. What can you tell us about the conversations you've had?
We are talking with the United States, but there is no concern about the U.S. forces in Korea. We believe that they will remain as such and their role will remain as of today.
So if there was a reduction of forces, what would that mean for the U.S.-South Korea relationship?
It's a hypothetical question, but I don't think it will happen. I have met a number of senators this time, and they all have assured me that it will not be the case.
Your government came to power in elections that followed a huge political crisis last year in Seoul. What are your takeaways from that experience?
I was able to witness the prowess of young people when they all came out to the street against the martial law in December. And I was really surprised that they were in a strangely happy mood to call for the country to re-establish democracy. I also have an experience of attending demonstrations in the late '70s. But we were at the time student fighters. Now, these are not fighters. They were simply in a festive mood but knew their rights and were very determined to rectify the wrongdoings of the government. So I was really impressed with the way they were demonstrating.
That's interesting. At a time when liberal democracy seems in crisis in many parts of the world, are there lessons South Korea can offer to the rest of us?
Let them seek what they can learn from us. But it's better for all countries to try to stay at the center, not to go to an extreme. Yes, [polarization] has been abetted by new technologies. But I have learned that it's better to try to come back to the center and let [rival camps] speak to each other.
A wave of U.S. allies are poised to recognize a Palestinian state. South Korea is one of the few outliers in Asia in so far not recognizing a state of Palestine. Will that policy change?
It's difficult to say. We are now absorbed in ourselves, but we will certainly look at developments in the region and also at United Nations. But again, we feel that we are vulnerable in changing situation in Northeast Asia, and frankly speaking, we do not have luxury of looking at things that have been happening in other regions of world.