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Trump Gone, But Tensions Still Loom in US-South Korea Alliance

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - After U.S. President Joe Biden took office last
   week, perhaps no world leader breathed a bigger public sigh of relief
   than South Korean President MoonJae-in.

   "America is back," Moon declared in a congratulatory message marking
   Biden's inauguration. The statement didn't directly mention outgoing
   President Donald Trump, but the intent was clear.

     .[1]@JoeBiden, congratulations on your inauguration. America is
     back. America's new beginning will make democracy even greater.
     Together with the Korean people, I stand by your journey toward
     'America United'. [2]pic.twitter.com/p3Whs9wzxU
     -- 문ì¬ì¸ (@moonriver365) [3]January 20, 2021

   The U.S.-South Korea alliance underwent a period of[4]open
   tensionsunder Trump, who[5]often usedblunt language, insults, and
   threats to pressure Seoul to pay more for the cost of hosting nearly
   30,000 U.S. troops.

   Much to Moon's relief, the military cost-sharing friction will likely
   subside under Biden, who recently[6]calledfor an end to "extorting"
   Seoul over the issue. But some analysts warn another major alliance
   disagreement could soon emerge over how to handle North Korea.

   Improving relations with North Korea is a legacy-defining issue for the
   left-leaning Moon, a former human rights activist whose parents fled
   the North as war-time refugees.

   But Moon, whose five-year presidential term ends next May, is running
   out of time to achieve inter-Korean peace. Although he has vowed a
   final push to renew talks, progress will be difficult without the
   support of Biden, who is consumed with the coronavirus pandemic that
   has killedmore than420,000 Americans and devastated the U.S. economy.

   Different approaches

   It's not just an issue of Biden being distracted. At times, Biden and
   Moon appear to have important differences about whether and how to
   engage North Korea at all.

   As vice president, Biden helped oversee former President Barack Obama's
   policy of "strategic patience," which attempted to gradually apply
   economic and military pressure until Pyongyang was ready to negotiate.

   During his presidential campaign, Biden repeatedly referred to North
   Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a "thug," "tyrant," and "dictator." Biden
   has suggested he wouldn't meet Kim without progress on North Korea's
   denuclearization.

   Although the Biden administration hasn't yet decided on a North Korea
   strategy, AntonyBlinken, who is set to become secretary of state, says
   the UnitedStateswould consider using both diplomacy and increased
   pressure to convince North Korea to return to negotiations.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://t.co/p3Whs9wzxU
   3. https://twitter.com/moonriver365/status/1352013087054827521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   4. https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/south-korea-small-notable-backlash-against-trump
   5. https://www.voanews.com/usa/trump-reignites-cost-sharing-dispute-s-korea
   6. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20201030000500325

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