[Anchor]
Michelle Steel, the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, publicly remarked that relations between South Korea and the United States are currently experiencing "turbulence," noting the unstable situation between the two nations. She directly cited China as the greatest threat to the Indo-Pacific region.
Kim Ayeong reports.
[Reporter]
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel and Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, attended a special luncheon meeting hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea.
Ambassador Steel said that South Korea has grown significantly economically and is no longer a country that the United States must simply protect, describing current bilateral relations with this analogy.
[Michelle Steel / U.S. Ambassador to South Korea: "This is a kind of 'turbulence' that we are experiencing right now between Korea and the United States."]
The use of the term "turbulence" appeared to point to the unstable situation the two nations have recently been experiencing, and is also interpreted as demanding that South Korea assume greater roles and responsibilities in their 70-year alliance.
While she did not mention Coupang by name, she expressed the view that the South Korean government's digital regulations are becoming an obstacle, saying American companies should not face discrimination in South Korea.
[Michelle Steel / U.S. Ambassador to South Korea: "There were really big barriers. There were measures like search and seizure, audits, and imposing fines."]
Regarding China, she issued blunt warnings.
[Michelle Steel / U.S. Ambassador to South Korea: "China is the greatest threat in the Indo-Pacific region. You can see how much China is trying to expand its influence."]
Regarding prospects for U.S.-North Korea dialogue, she replied that while the U.S. government has always maintained that it is open to talks, it remains uncertain whether real dialogue will take place, noting that North Korea has not responded.
Gen. Brunson pointed out that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is evolving to a dangerous level, with continuous "gray-zone activities" testing regional stability.
(Camera: Kim Heung-gi | Video Editing: Jeong Seong-hun)
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