Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party, met with the acting United States ambassador to South Korea on Jan. 22, stressing the importance of bolstering the South Korea-U.S. alliance. During a party meeting, Lee welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks expressing willingness to resume talks with North Korea. “We hope this leads to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, inter-Korean exchanges, and lasting peace,” Lee said. His remarks come as he places renewed emphasis on the bilateral alliance.
The administration of former President Moon Jae-in also underscored the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, but significant discord emerged over key issues, including cooperation with North Korea, China, and Japan. These tensions were later disclosed in memoirs by senior officials from the Trump administration. During Moon’s tenure, the government advocated for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s alleged “willingness to denuclearize,” a claim dismissed as unfounded by retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who served as Trump’s national security adviser. McMaster characterized it as “distorted information.” Similarly, former national security adviser John Bolton criticized South Korea’s diplomatic efforts, calling the “whole diplomatic fandango” a “creation of South Korea,” designed to create the illusion of progress in U.S.-North Korea diplomacy. Despite these efforts, North Korea’s nuclear arsenal remained fully intact while Trump controversially suspended joint military exercises with South Korea.
Reflecting on the 2019 meeting at Panmunjom involving leaders from both Koreas and the U.S., former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described President Moon’s insistence on participating in the summit as “a significant challenge,” adding that “Kim Jong-un neither respected nor prioritized Moon.” Bolton further noted that Trump deliberately distanced himself from Moon during the meeting. Despite this, Moon touted his role as a “mediator” between the parties.
McMaster also revealed that Trump expressed frustration with Moon for delaying the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system due to pressure from China, calling the delay a “waste of time.” Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper disclosed that in 2020, the U.S. considered withdrawing THAAD from South Korea, citing concerns that the country was moving closer to China’s sphere of influence. Additionally, after South Korea’s 2019 decision to terminate the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan, which the Moon administration claimed was “understood by the U.S.,” American officials refuted the claim, calling it a “lie.” These episodes highlighted the significant strain on the alliance during the Democratic Party’s time in power.
The South Korea-U.S. alliance remains a cornerstone in deterring threats from North Korea and China. However, Trump’s recent remarks referring to North Korea as a “nuclear power” and his willingness to engage with Kim Jong-un complicate this dynamic. The Democratic Party has embraced Trump’s comments as a potential avenue to rekindle inter-Korean peace initiatives. Critics argue that this stance reflects the party’s intent to leverage Trump’s position for staging peace events, despite Pyongyang’s unchanged nuclear capabilities. This raises questions about the party’s broader interpretation of the alliance.
In the past, Lee Jae-myung referred to U.S. forces in South Korea as an “occupying army” and proposed replacing the THAAD system with heating boilers for local residents. His recent emphasis on the South Korea-U.S. alliance suggests it may serve as a strategic campaign issue or a means to advance inter-Korean initiatives, rather than a reflection of genuine commitment.
