The ‘National Security Strategy (Security Strategy)’ published by the President’s Office on the 7th was described in the ‘Japan-China’ order. It is a big difference from the Moon Jae-in administration’s security strategy document, which was described in terms of ‘China-Japan’. A high-ranking official in the presidential office said, “There is no specific rule, but I think the standard is to place (first) a country that is a little closer to us (us) in terms of the value of the constitution and freedom. .” In terms of length, the description of Japan was three pages, while the Chinese part was only one page. Unlike the Moon Jae-in administration, which tried to get closer to China with inter-Korean relations at the center of diplomacy, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration prioritized international ‘value cooperation’ and strengthened cooperation between Korea, the United States and Japan.
The Office of the President said of the United States, “the realization of a global comprehensive strategic alliance based on universal values,” and of Japan, “the developmental succession of the spirit of the Kim Dae-jung and Obuchi Declaration, facing the past and creating a brand new . future.” Regarding Japan, it was also explained that “Korea and Japan share the general values of liberal democracy and market economy, and are close and important neighbors who cooperate in various fields such as security and economy.” Compared to the Moon Jae-in administration, which aimed to ‘develop into a mutual and comprehensive alliance’ with the United States and declared with Japan ‘to face history and respond harshly to historical distortions and unreasonable claims about Dokdo’. . The previous government did not make any special descriptions on cooperation between Korea, the United States and Japan, but the Yoon Seok-yeol government presented the goal of ‘improving cooperation to a new level’.
As for China, it was interpreted as having distanced itself from the Lunar government, which proposed ‘a healthy and mature relationship based on mutual respect and benefit’ and ‘the establishment of a strategic cooperative partnership’. Regarding Russia, he wrote, “The need for a complete review of foreign policy towards Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine has been raised.”
A security official said, “The Moon Jae-in government’s security strategy described the security situation in the ‘Korean Peninsula-World’ order and emphasized dialogue, but the Yoon Seok-yeol administration analyzed the situation in the ‘World-Korea. Peninsula’ order and emphasized solidarity with allies and partners.” “It means that we will deal with the issue of North Korea on a global level rather than limiting it to the issue of the Korean Peninsula,” he said.
