Translation result.
[Herald Economy reporter Moon Hye-hyun] Officials say lingering disagreements between Washington and Seoul — including trade frictions involving e-commerce firm Coupang — continue to complicate security negotiations and could affect projects such as the construction of nuclear-powered submarines. South Korea–U.S. security talks have effectively stalled, and analysts warn that poor handling of these disputes could derail implementation of agreed measures.
At a press briefing hosted by the Korean Newspaper and Broadcasting Editors Association on the 13th, National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lak was asked whether economic disputes like those involving Coupang, which have been flagged as U.S.-Korea trade concerns, are influencing security consultations. “Economic and security issues overlap in investment matters. Coupang is one of those cases,” he said.
“We face new challenges in carrying out the U.S.–Korea agreements,” Wi added. “We are managing these issues. If they are mishandled, the agreements could unravel, so we are working to prevent that. Coupang is one of the items we’re monitoring. Managing a few of these matters is urgent.”
He said security talks are “somewhat stalled” and need to be put back on track. “It’s one of my main priorities,” he said, noting that with this year being an election year, the available time may be limited.
On the transfer of wartime operational control — a central task for the Lee Jae-myung administration — Wi said, “We will complete the roadmap to restore wartime operational control this year and pursue final verification of full operational capability.”
“U.S. and South Korean defense authorities are pushing for an expedited transfer of wartime operational control,” he said. “Our military is transforming into a democratic force suited to future security environments. We are seeking increases in defense spending and other capabilities so the South Korean armed forces can take a leading role in defending the peninsula.”
Regarding the unidentified aerial object that struck the South Korean ship HMM Namu, Wi said, “We do not have sufficient grounds to conclude this was a drone. If it wasn’t a drone, it could have been a missile. Several possibilities remain open.”
Pressed on who carried out the attack, he cautioned against assigning blame without firm evidence. “You can’t point to an entire country and accuse it just because circumstances raise suspicions. Just as you wouldn’t single out and accuse someone in a legal dispute before there’s proof, the same, or more so, applies between states.”
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told reporters on the 14th that “the government will conduct a formal investigation into the HMM Namu strike and take necessary response measures based on the findings.”
Responding to media reports that fragments recovered from the Namu weighed “tens of kilograms,” a senior Foreign Ministry official said, “I’ve seen the photos. You can’t judge weight from an image. That information isn’t confirmed.”
Asked when the debris would be brought to South Korea, the official said, “Investigators examined the debris in Dubai and then transferred it to our embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We will bring it to Korea as soon as possible.” The government has initiated consultations with the UAE and plans to hand the debris to a Defense Ministry specialist agency for analysis once it arrives in the country.
On whether the investigation might fail to identify the attacker, Minister Cho said, “It’s rare for a government to be able to precisely pinpoint an attacker and have the other side admit, ‘We did it.’” He added, “Still, if we scrutinize the results, we expect to have sufficient grounds to press the matter with the other party to some degree.”
Most Commented