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J. DeTrani: Address to Summit 2022, Session IV
Written by Amb. Joseph Detrani, U.S. Special Envoy for Six Party Talks with North Korea (2003-2006)
Friday, August 12, 2022
Address to Summit 2022 and Leadership Conference,
Seoul, Korea, August 11-15, 2022
It’s great being here. We spent three days speaking with senior Republic of Korea officials. I can’t tell you how enlightening those discussions were. I’m going to try to capture some of this, and my colleagues who are on the committee with me will also talk about their impressions.
Let me just start with the visit of President Joe Biden, with President Yoon and the meetings on the 21st of May. They said this was the beginning. This is the beginning of a new type of relationship in regards to the Republic of Korea as being a global actor, looking at global national security issues, dealing with the United States and other countries on issues like supply chain, artificial intelligence, semiconductors. I can tell you the investments coming into the United States from the Republic of Korea are significant. That came through in our discussions. This type of relationship with the Republic of Korea, the 10th largest economy in the world, significant GDP, very powerful.
Obviously, when we were talking about the relationship between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea, North Korea was a major issue for obvious reasons. You all know the obvious reasons: 31 missiles launched in 2022, submarine launch, ballistic missiles, hypersonics, et cetera. We can go down a list, anticipating, expecting likely a 7th nuclear test. We did talk about that and the view of the Yoon government with the Biden government. This is the U.S. and the Republic of Korea saying, “enhance deterrence. Get the message to the DPRK that we will not just sit here. We in the ROK, we in the United States, and we globally will just not sit here. There will be consequences. Indeed, if there’s a seventh nuclear test, continued escalation deterrence, enhanced deterrence.”
When we talk about deterrence, we’re talking about extended nuclear deterrence. There is some commentary about there may be a sense in the Republic of Korea that maybe the Republic of Korea needs its own nuclear weapon, but that wouldn’t be necessary with enhancing and ensuring that we have this extended nuclear deterrence commitment to the Republic of Korea. This nuclear umbrella is there, and it’s powerful. North Korea understands it. We reiterated that. That came through in the meetings in a very significant way.
Also, the Yoon government’s approach to relations with the DPRK, it’s not only enhancing deterrence, enhancing joint military exercises with the United States, as we’ll see at the end of this month, but it’s also looking at an audacious plan. We’ll all be hearing that audacious plan very soon from the president of the Republic of Korea. That came out very clearly where President Yoon was telling us, the Americans who were here to learn, to listen, to better understand, was telling us very clearly that this will be an audacious plan. It will incentivize North Korea to move towards rapprochement. Indeed, the ultimate imperative here, and it’s a moral imperative, is ultimately reunification of the Korean peninsula. That is powerful.
That’s what this conference is all about, reunification. This is what we were hearing. It’s not just extended nuclear deterrence. It’s not enhancing joint military exercises. It’s not containing North Korea. It’s not looking at additional sanctions per se. It’s encouraging North Korea to move towards that, if you will, inter-Korean relations and eventually whether it’s progress from a confederation to reunification. Looking towards the ultimate reunification of the Korean peninsula; indeed, to me, I found that very encouraging.
We did ask what’s in the audacious plan? We will hear that within a few days. That’s very encouraging. Let me just mention one or two other things.
We heard this morning from all the outstanding leaders and speakers around the world and how threatening and dangerous the world environment is. In some ways, the world is in disarray. We are looking at the war in Ukraine. We’re looking at what’s going on in the Taiwan Strait with Taiwan, where China literally is not only embargoing, but basically threatening Taiwan.
There was a discussion on these issues here, but indeed, there’s no question where the Republic of Korea is on these issues. Free and open Indo-Pacific, free and open Taiwan Strait, given the economic advantages to that, and also the Republic of Korea maintaining a good relationship with other countries, to include China. We just saw the visit of the foreign minister, the Republic of Korea meeting with his counterpart, State Councilor Wangi. Of course, China is a major trading partner, the number one trading partner, but making it very clear free and open Indo-Pacific, free and open Taiwan Strait. The alliance is with the -- and I emphasize this, ladies and gentlemen -- the alliance is with the United States, and this is a very strong alliance.
Let me just say Andrew Kim, former Head of the CIA’s Korea Mission Center, was with us on this visit. He knows North Korea better than anyone I know. He knows the Republic of Korea. He knows North Korea. He was so impressed with the meetings, and he said, “Joe, could you do me a favor? Could you mention to the audience here that he was so impressed with the reception we received, the type of officials we met with, their vision and how committed they are to this alliance with the United States.”
I thank you for all being here. I’m extremely encouraged with these three days, and I thank The Washington Times that does this. We learn so much, ladies and gentlemen. I think the key here is, and I hear that often from Chris Dolan, the president of The Washington Times is, listen, you can learn. That’s what we’re here for. We learned a great deal. Thank you.
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