Harris: 'Trump Refocusing on North Korea... Dialogue Must Not Sacrifice Response Capabilities'

Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris stated that while U.S. President Trump is refocusing his attention on North Korea, dialogue with Pyongyang must not be conducted in a way that weakens response capabilities against the North.

During a session titled "Collective Defense or Collective Security: Toward a New Security Order in East Asia" at the Jeju Forum held at the Haevichi Hotel in Jeju on June 24, former Ambassador Harris said, "As President Lee Jae-myung said last week, President Trump is refocusing his attention on North Korea."

However, he emphasized, "The pursuit of dialogue with North Korea must never be done in a way that sacrifices the ability to respond to North Korean threats."

Former Ambassador Harris said, "Kim Jong-un likely learned the lesson from the cases of Ukraine and Iran that nuclear weapons are important," adding, "I believe he will not give up his nuclear ambitions."

He went on to say that the U.S. "administrations could have done more to prevent North Korea's nuclear ambitions from becoming a reality," and that "the U.S. waited too long over at least six administrations and relied too heavily on diplomacy," while adding, "I hope diplomacy with North Korea succeeds, and I truly wish for that to happen."
  Regarding the issue of cooperation from allies following the recent conflict between the U.S. and Iran, he made remarks that could be interpreted as pressuring allies, including South Korea.

Former Ambassador Harris said, "When the U.S. asks its allies and partners for help, and they say 'no' citing their national interests, they should not be surprised if the U.S. subsequently acts in its own national interest regarding those countries."

When asked about allied cooperation regarding the U.S.-Iran war, former Ambassador Harris responded, "Whether you agree or disagree with U.S. policy in the Middle East, the decision of whether to support the U.S. depends on how each country assesses its own interests."

In his earlier opening remarks, former Ambassador Harris also expressed hope that South Korea would find ways to contribute in the "post-kinetic" phase, where intensive combat has ended following the peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran.

Former South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook, who attended the same session, stated regarding the East Asian security order, "It is not a matter of choosing between collective defense and collective security, but a matter of how to balance and combine the two systems."

Former Minister Suh said, "South Korea should basically focus on collective defense through the South Korea-U.S. alliance, while adopting a strategy that utilizes collective security in a complementary manner."

However, he pointed out, "Strengthening the alliance could be perceived by opposing countries as encirclement and pressure, and it could increase bloc competition and the risk of entrapment," adding, "The key is how to secure strategic stability while maintaining strong deterrence."

When asked about the so-called "CRINK" (China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) cooperation, he said, "While South Korea does not frequently use the term 'CRINK,' its primary concern is cooperation among North Korea, China, and Russia."

Former Minister Suh explained, "South Korea's hope is that they (North Korea, China, and Russia) do not form a bloc," but added, "Since their bloc formation and strengthening of cooperation are a reality, we are pursuing security cooperation with neighboring countries based on the South Korea-U.S. alliance."

He added, "However, this cannot be resolved through military confrontation alone. We must also work to ease crises while strengthening strategic communication with each country."

Shigeru Kitamura, former Secretary General of Japan's National Security Secretariat, assessed the so-called "CRINK" cooperation, saying, "Although it is not a formal military alliance, they are forming a practical strategic alignment through military cooperation, technology transfer, and sanctions evasion networks," calling it "a direct challenge to the rules-based foundation of the international order."

He continued, "Japan achieved prosperity under a paradigm that separated economy from security, but that premise has changed," emphasizing, "What is required of Japan today is a transition to a strategic state that places economic security at the center of its national strategy."

He added, "Ideals without power are empty, but power without ideals cannot endure. In the era of geopolitics, the practical wisdom of combining these two elements will make Japan a sustainable strategic state and ensure the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.