USA: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is on a six-day tour of the United States to meet with President Joe Biden to deepen their alliance and build cultural links. The two presidents toured important heritage sites on Tuesday, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery and the Korean War Memorial, in which US soldiers are depicted fighting North Korean forces in the 1950-53 conflict.
The visit comes at a time when tensions are rising in the Pacific, with North Korea increasing its nuclear weapon capabilities and China doubling down on its One China policy. Seoul is currently mired in a diplomatic spat with China after Yoon blamed recent heightened tensions over Taiwan on "attempts to change the status quo by force,"-a statement which incurred annoyance from China who lodged a formal complaint against Yoon’s “egregious” remarks. All of this means it will be important for Biden to reassure his guest over the US commitment to "extended deterrence"-a US policy aimed at preventing nuclear and military attacks on its allies’ soil.
Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee will attend lavish ceremonies and a White House Gala today where they will meet with Biden and his wife Jill to establish a deeper rapport so that discussions can be had on military alliances, cyber cooperation, climate change mitigation, foreign assistance and investments. Gifts have already been exchanged between the diplomats including a handmade mahogany table, vintage baseball memorabilia and a blue sapphire necklace designed by a Korean American jeweller.
There are expected to be some uncomfortable conversations as well. Last month, documents were leaked which showed the US has been spying on Seoul and had recorded conversations of Yoon discussing sending weapons to the Ukraine. As a result, Yoon’s approval ratings have taken a hit, but he does not appear to see the US actions as a major hindrance to relationship-building.
"I believe that this matter is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the US-South Korea alliance, because it is based on shared values like freedom," Yoon told NBC News. "When you have that trust, you don’t get shaken."
South Korea is the world’s ninth-largest arms exporter and the White House is pressuring the country to secure ammunition to Kyiv. South Korea has a longstanding policy of not providing weapons to active conflict zones, but has sent humanitarian assistance to the Ukraine, and has sold tanks and howitzers to Poland.
To round out his visit, Yoon met with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos on Monday, whose company announced a $2.5 billion investment in South Korean content. South Korean content has proven to reach US audiences. The “Squid Game” series was Netflix’s most-watched show of all time, while the movie “Parasite” garnered international praise and won an Oscar.
Yoon’s visit to Washington provides many opportunities for the leader to reiterate South Korea’s shared values with the United States, both culturally and politically. A joint meeting of Congress will allow him to reach US lawmakers directly about his commitment to freedom, democracy and South Korea’s aspirations to becoming a “global pivotal state” in its alliance with the US.
