[Anchor]

Next, let's examine the impact on our country.

First, we will look into foreign affairs and national security with political desk reporter Kim Ayeong.

Q. Which pending issues require help from the U.S. Congress?

[Reporter Kim Ayeong: These are matters agreed upon by the leaders of South Korea and the United States last year, and they immediately require the cooperation of Congress. Although the Trump administration has expressed its support, there are no tangible results yet. The problem is that the Democratic Party, which has become the majority party, is more negative toward nuclear proliferation than the Republicans. In fact, last January, four Democratic lawmakers even sent a letter to President Trump opposing the provision of potential nuclear capabilities to South Korea. This means the hurdle has become even higher for us.]

Q. What about the wartime operational control and USFK issues?

[Reporter Kim Ayeong: As for wartime operational control (OPCON), although Congress has influence through the National Defense Authorization Act, substantive authority lies with the Trump administration. This is fundamentally a negotiation between administrations. The OPCON issue is expected to hinge on the defense chiefs' meeting scheduled for next month, as well as the Security Consultative Meeting negotiations early next year. Even if Congress acts as a check, under the U.S. legal system, President Trump, as commander-in-chief, can exercise substantive authority over the size and operations of U.S. Forces Korea. This means the president's authority takes precedence in foreign affairs and national security. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also emphasized that the administration leads diplomacy.]

[Marco Rubio / U.S. Secretary of State (October 31 local time): It (the election result) will not impact or change the direction President Trump is moving in his policies.]

Q. Will this also affect North Korea–U.S. dialogue?

[Reporter Kim Ayeong: President Trump's standing in U.S. domestic politics has narrowed considerably this time. Given Trump's personality, rather than dealing with troublesome domestic politics, he may focus on diplomatic achievements where he can showcase his presence. One of those is dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. Trump has highlighted North Korea–U.S. dialogue during his first term as his achievement for nearly a decade, boasting of his friendship with Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued statements for the second consecutive day, pressuring the United States while covering denuclearization, sanctions, and human rights issues, and some analyze that she is trying to seize the initiative with an eye on Trump's situation where he needs a breakthrough as an election defeat became likely.]