US Presidential Election: A Nail-Biting Finish – Ambassador Weighs In on the Unpredictable Race

Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong: “The US presidential election will be closely fought until the last minute.”
“Coordinating the Korea-US-Japan summit within the year… “We are fully prepared for the results of the US presidential election.”
“Possibility of North Korean provocations ahead of US presidential election due to Russia’s close relationship with North Korea… “ROK-US cooperation”

ⓒNews This year’s US presidential election is about 40 days away, but it is still difficult to determine the superiority between the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and the Republican candidate Donald Trump, and the US Embassy predicts that the close race continues until the end.

There is a possibility that North Korea may launch a major provocation around the US presidential election, and ROK and US authorities intend to maintain a cooperative system and joint response to provocations.

US Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong said regarding the US presidential election at a press conference held in Washington, DC on the 24th (local time), “There was the first debate, and there was an attempt to shoot another Trump candidate, but it the tense situation continues,” adding, “There are certain variables moving forward.” He predicted, “Unless something happens, a game in which it will be difficult to determine the superiority or inferiority will continue until the last minute.”

Ambassador Cho continued, “I have emphasized that the ROK-US alliance will continue to develop regardless of the results of the US presidential election.” He added, “Coordination to hold a Korea-US-Japan summit within the year continues, and various multilateral diplomacy actions, including the G20 (20 major countries) planned to be held in the second half of the year, are underway .” “It could also be used as an opportunity for high-level exchanges,” he explained.

At the US embassy level, “The role of exchanges with think tanks is important as the new administration’s major foreign policy framework is developing immediately after the presidential election,” and “The administration transition team formed will immediately after the presidential election reviewing related policies such as the ROK-US alliance and North Korea policy.” “We intend to be fully prepared so that the embassy can respond promptly during the process,” he added.

The government believes that although there are differences in approach to North Korea policy, there is a consensus among US experts that the goal of denuclearizing North Korea cannot be abandoned.

On the other hand, Ambassador Cho said, “The situation on the Korean Peninsula and the international situation remain difficult to relax in,” and mentioned the visit of Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of the Russian National Security Council, to Pyongyang on the 13th . and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui’s recent visit to Russia.

He continued, “The close relationship between Russia and North Korea continues. In such a situation, North Korea unveiled a new solid intercontinental ballistic missile mobile launcher, and continues to show unusual actions such as Kim Jong-un’s visit to a uranium enrichment facility, a ballistic missile launch, and an announcement to hold a Supreme Assembly the People. ,” he noted.

Ambassador Cho emphasized, “There has always been the possibility of serious provocations by North Korea during the change in the US administration,” and “the government maintains a posture of unwavering readiness 24 hours a day through thorough information sharing and response coordination between South Korea and the United States.”

Although there have not yet been clear signs that North Korea will launch a major provocation, it is said that there are views within the South Korean and US authorities that consider the series of actions as a precursor to a provocation. South Korea and the United States were said to plan to respond at the level previously agreed upon if North Korea launches a provocation, such as a seventh nuclear test.

Regarding the media report that day that Korea was the country that invested the most in the United States last year, Ambassador Cho said, “This is evidence of a positive trend where the United States, the world’s largest market, and Korea , which has cutting-edge technology, where everyone wins.”

Some have criticized that the relationship is only beneficial to the US, but the analysis seems to be that profits generated through US investment will eventually return to Korea. In addition, the government believes that domestic companies that invest in the United States receive appropriate subsidies.

Diplomatic authorities are watching as the US government continues to try to reorganize the global supply chain for cutting-edge technologies, such as semiconductor equipment, memory, and connected cars, to focus on its own country.

In the case of the recently announced connected vehicle regulations, the government assesses that Korean companies have had some time to adapt, and it is reported that the government intends to observe the final decision of the United States on the export of high bandwidth memory (HBM) controls and then negotiate in a way that will benefit the country.

[워싱턴=뉴시스]