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S. Korea's Ruling Party Urges 'Independent' Defense Amid US Shift
(MENAFN) South Korea's ruling Democratic Party issued an urgent call Monday for the nation to bolster its "independent" security capabilities, warning that Washington could soon back a "freeze-first" strategy toward North Korea's nuclear arsenal.
The appeal came from party leader Kim Min-seok during a policy address to the National Assembly, according to a report from a news agency.
"The days when South Korea could depend solely on the United States are over," Kim declared, adding that Washington is choosing to become "a tough negotiating partner rather than a generous big brother."
The blunt assessment comes on the heels of a string of recent moves by Washington — most notably President Donald Trump's decision to pare back joint military exercises with Seoul.
Kim stressed that South Korea has a role to play in bridging dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. He laid out a scenario in which shifting US-North Korea dynamics could reshape the security landscape entirely.
"Considering the possibility that the United States and North Korea may achieve a dramatic improvement in relations and if by any chance, a 'freeze-first, resolve-later' approach could be adopted on the North Korean nuclear issue, South Korea must strengthen its independent security capabilities in advance," he said.
Kim went further, suggesting Seoul should not automatically reject North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's "two-state" framework, but instead weigh whether it might serve as a foundation for peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas.
The remarks land just weeks after Trump signaled plans to meet with Kim Jong-un before year's end and directed a scale-down of a major joint US-South Korea military exercise. Trump has defended the move, calling the allied drills costly and warning they risk sending a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal to Pyongyang.
The appeal came from party leader Kim Min-seok during a policy address to the National Assembly, according to a report from a news agency.
"The days when South Korea could depend solely on the United States are over," Kim declared, adding that Washington is choosing to become "a tough negotiating partner rather than a generous big brother."
The blunt assessment comes on the heels of a string of recent moves by Washington — most notably President Donald Trump's decision to pare back joint military exercises with Seoul.
Kim stressed that South Korea has a role to play in bridging dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. He laid out a scenario in which shifting US-North Korea dynamics could reshape the security landscape entirely.
"Considering the possibility that the United States and North Korea may achieve a dramatic improvement in relations and if by any chance, a 'freeze-first, resolve-later' approach could be adopted on the North Korean nuclear issue, South Korea must strengthen its independent security capabilities in advance," he said.
Kim went further, suggesting Seoul should not automatically reject North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's "two-state" framework, but instead weigh whether it might serve as a foundation for peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas.
The remarks land just weeks after Trump signaled plans to meet with Kim Jong-un before year's end and directed a scale-down of a major joint US-South Korea military exercise. Trump has defended the move, calling the allied drills costly and warning they risk sending a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal to Pyongyang.
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