[Lee Jae-myung Government 1 Year] ⑤ From Tariff Negotiations to Middle East Crisis… Repeated Challenges in Pragmatic Diplomacy

[Lee Jae-myung Government 1 Year] ⑤ From Tariff Negotiations to Middle East Crisis… Repeated Challenges in Pragmatic Diplomacy

Foundation laid for ROK-US cooperation on nuclear submarines and nuclear power… Middle East war is a test of crisis management

Achievements in improving Korea-Japan and Korea-China relations… North Korea maintains 'two hostile states' stance

Since its inauguration, the Lee Jae-myung government has focused on crisis management, prioritizing pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests amidst external adverse factors such as tariff pressure from the United States and the Middle East crisis.

Despite difficult external conditions, it concluded tariff negotiations with the U.S., advanced discussions on ROK-U.S. cooperation in nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear energy, and achieved diplomatic successes such as improving relations with China and Japan.

Furthermore, in line with the North Korea policy of 'peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula,' it sought dialogue with North Korea, but the North stubbornly refused contact with the South, maintaining its 'two hostile states' stance, thus failing to achieve a clear breakthrough in inter-Korean relations.

◇ Achievements in nuclear submarines and nuclear power amidst concessions on investment to the U.S.

The biggest diplomatic issue the Lee Jae-myung government faced upon its inauguration was the tariff pressure from the Donald Trump administration in the United States.

Immediately after his inauguration last year, President Trump advocated for 'America First,' imposing large-scale tariffs on countries worldwide and demanding increased investment.

After several months of negotiations, Korea agreed to adjust mutual tariffs from 25% to 15% and pledged 350 billion dollars (approximately 500 trillion won) in investment in the U.S.

In return, in the security sector, it secured U.S. support for the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and the expansion of rights for uranium enrichment for nuclear power plants and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing.

These details were specified in the 'Joint Fact Sheet' (JFS), the outcome of the ROK-U.S. summit held in Gyeongju on October 29 last year.

Subsequent consultations for the implementation of the JFS were delayed due to the aftermath of the Middle East war, but an inaugural meeting for follow-up consultations in the security sector is scheduled to be held in Seoul on the 2nd-3rd of next month. This marks the beginning of full-fledged ROK-U.S. security sector negotiations.

The inaugural meeting will be attended by a pan-government delegation consisting of First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoon-ju and officials from the Presidential National Security Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Climate and Energy, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission.

The U.S. delegation will consist of Allison Hooker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and officials from the White House National Security Council (NSC), Department of State, Department of Energy, and Department of War.

The government plans to advance security agreements as much as possible during President Trump's term, given that the nuclear non-proliferation stance remains significant in the U.S. political circles.

◇ 'Tailwinds' in Korea-China and Korea-Japan relations… Middle East crisis tests diplomatic capabilities

With China, relations accelerated towards improvement, declaring a full restoration of Korea-China relations on the occasion of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Korea last year and President Lee's visit to China early this year.

Subsequently, there was also an achievement of moving China's structural management facilities, which had been installed in the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) in the West Sea, outside the zone.

Korea-Japan relations also continued their improvement trend, restoring shuttle diplomacy between leaders.

President Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi continued mutual visits to build trust and agreed to expand cooperation in areas such as energy and supply chains.

The Middle East crisis caused by the U.S.-Iran war was another test of the government's diplomatic capabilities.

Amidst Korean ships being stranded due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, an unprecedented situation occurred on the 4th, when the Korean ship HMM Namu, anchored in the strait, was attacked.

From the early stages of the war, the government deployed military transport planes and charter flights to assist in evacuating Korean residents, and held a series of consultations with relevant countries such as Iran and the United States, making all-out efforts to ensure ship safety and resume passage.

Furthermore, an investigation into the HMM Namu attack concluded that the weapon used in the attack was likely a Noor-series anti-ship missile developed in Iran, and the Iranian Ambassador to Korea, Saeed Kouzechi, was summoned to convey a protest and demand for prevention of recurrence.

The government is coordinating its response level, comprehensively considering the safety of remaining Korean ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Korean citizens residing in Iran, and the post-war situation.

◇ North Korea's consistent hostile stance despite proactive efforts for improved relations… Hopes for exchange in multilateral forums

The North Korea policy pursued a 'Korean Peninsula Peaceful Coexistence Policy' with the goal of transforming inter-Korean relations from 'hostility and confrontation' to 'peaceful coexistence and common growth.'

Immediately after its inauguration, the government proactively undertook measures such as suspending loudspeaker broadcasts to North Korea and halting the scattering of anti-North Korea leaflets by private organizations to alleviate inter-Korean tensions and restore trust.

In his Liberation Day speech last year, President Lee declared three principles of North Korea policy: respecting the North's system, not pursuing absorption unification, and not engaging in any hostile acts, while also foreshadowing the proactive and phased restoration of the September 19 Military Agreement, which the Yoon Seok-yeol government had suspended.

Furthermore, President Lee personally expressed regret over the infiltration of private drones into North Korea, which occurred during this government's term.

Diplomatic efforts to drive North Korea-U.S. dialogue were also made. President Lee met with President Donald Trump and proposed the roles of 'peacemaker' and 'pacemaker' for realizing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Despite these efforts, which braved criticism of being 'submissive' and 'one-sided love,' there was no tangible progress in inter-Korean relations, which had been completely severed for nearly eight years.

North Korea thoroughly ignored or rejected South Korea's efforts, following the 'two hostile states' policy declared by Chairman Kim Jong Un at the end of 2023.

In the Supreme People's Assembly held in March, a territorial clause was newly established in the constitution, defining South Korea as a foreign country. In particular, Chairman Kim threatened in his policy speech at the Supreme People's Assembly, saying, "We will recognize Korea as the most hostile country and thoroughly reject and ignore it with the clearest words and actions," and "make them pay the price mercilessly."

Efforts to improve relations, which lasted for nearly a year, thus turned into a threat.

However, some views suggest that there are faint signs of improved relations, predicting the possibility of non-political inter-Korean exchanges within the multilateral framework of the international community, based on recent events such as the visit of the North Korean women's soccer team to the South.