The U.S.-South Korea alliance is ironclad and built on shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. However, given the recent political turmoil in South Korea, the economic and security alliance between the two countries must remain strong. Despite facing one of the greatest challenges, I believe in the democratic efforts of the Korean people.
The US needs to pay attention. why? This is because South Korea is an important ally in maintaining a free and open region in the Indo-Pacific. As increasing aggression by North Korea and the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) threaten a free and open Indo-Pacific, the U.S.-South Korea alliance remains committed to thwarting these threats and promoting peace through force. It has become even more important.
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol and acting President Han Deok-soo were impeached within weeks. An arrest warrant has been issued for President Yoon. — Domestic political instability and polarization continue.
Although media coverage, including in the United States, has focused heavily on the anti-Yun protests, Koreans protest against impeachment They also appear every day at Gwanghwamun Gate in central Seoul, waving the national flags of South Korea and the United States. Unfortunately, these images have been largely ignored by Western media.
While the U.S.-South Korea alliance enjoys broad bipartisan support in the United States, factions in South Korea, including those who led the impeachment of the president, are plotting to undermine the alliance and the trilateral partnership between the United States and Japan. With Communist China's expanding naval presence and unprecedented developments in relations between North Korea and Russia, the long-term sustainability of the trilateral partnership is critical to regional stability.
Now is the time to expand joint exercises, people-to-people exchanges, and information and technology cooperation, not retreat. Unfortunately, the original impeachment motion against President Yoon accused him of viewing North Korea, China, and Russia as enemies, isolating South Korea in Northeast Asia, and being too pro-Japan.
This same faction calls for a formal declaration of an end to the Korean War, which I have consistently opposed until we ensure North Korea's complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization and respect for its fundamental human rights. . A unilateral declaration of an end to the war without North Korea's concessions would undermine the security of the Korean Peninsula and destabilize it.
Such a premature declaration would also pose a risk to the US forces stationed in South Korea. As a political statement, this declaration is a perfect talking point for demanding that North Korea and China withdraw their approximately 29,000 troops from the Korean peninsula and dismantle the peninsula. US Forces Koreaand the permanent suspension of annual US-South Korea joint military exercises. Moreover, declaring unconditional peace would impede the ability to achieve important national security goals in the region.
Any erosion of our combination of deterrence and trust in our alliances would have serious implications for security in the Indo-Pacific region. Our adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party and the North Korean regime, are looking for ways to exploit any instability by exploiting weaknesses in our alliances. Political turmoil and growing anti-American propaganda in South Korea are giving the green light to adversaries.
The Chinese Communist Party's evil influence is becoming more bold and brazen day by day. Intimidation tactics and direct attacks against allies in the South China Sea, and efforts to hack global communication networks, including the current 9 U.S. carriers — That's the new normal. Additionally, the Chinese Communist Party spends billions of dollars annually, according to the State Department. Foreign information manipulation efforts We will then carry out a large-scale information manipulation campaign to rebuild the world's information landscape. We must fight back and support our allies.
We also cannot turn a blind eye to North Korea's aggression, nuclear ambitions, and human rights violations. There, we introduced North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Actpassed the House this Congress. overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion. Unfortunately, the Senate was unable to take up this bill. In the new Congress, my top priorities will continue to be to counter the North Korean regime and promote American leadership and values around the world.
The US-ROK alliance must not turn a deaf ear to the US and South Korea. South Korea's stability and true democratic governance are critical for the United States to maintain a peaceful, free, and open Indo-Pacific. Both Congress and the current and incoming administrations must work to ensure a continued commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance and a free and democratic South Korea.
Young Kim represents California's 40th District.
