South Korea could find itself marginalized on North Korean issues if the next U.S. administration opts for negotiations with Pyongyang, a scenario that seems increasingly probable if former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to office, as suggested by Wi Sung-lac, a lawmaker-elect of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).”In the event of Donald Trump’s return — although I wouldn’t place very high odds on his reelection — he might not prioritize the alliance with South Korea. This would challenge the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s strong reliance on the South Korea-U.S. alliance, which is the main pillar of the government’s current diplomacy,” Wi said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

The former diplomat foresaw the possibility of Washington engaging in negotiations with Pyongyang following the launch of a new U.S. administration after the Nov. 5 presidential election, regardless of whether it’s under Trump or incumbent President Joe Biden.”Considering the Yoon administration’s hawkish stance on North Korea, Trump may opt to engage directly with Pyongyang, excluding Seoul from the negotiations. This suggests that the U.S. president will exert considerable influence over critical security decisions on the Korean Peninsula, such as extended deterrence and combined military exercises, potentially sidelining South Korea,” he said.While South Korean officials are cautiously engaging with figures from the Trump camp to mitigate the potential impact on U.S. security commitments, Wi regarded this as merely a short-term approach.”A more sustainable approach should involve reforming the foundational principles of the current foreign policy direction to protect the nation’s core interests in the rapidly evolving international 카지노사이트킹 landscape, rather than solely preparing for the potential return of Trump,” he said.