Moon Chung-in calls South Korea-US alliance a curse; ex-ministers disagree at Seoul forum

Moon Chung-in, honorary professor of political science and diplomacy at Yonsei University, said on 21 October that he sees the South Korea-US alliance as a curse rather than a blessing. "Personally, I see the alliance as a curse, not a blessing, for us," he said, adding that "as long as we are in the alliance, we cannot escape the security dilemma." He spoke at a discussion held by Seoul National University's Institute for National Future Strategy. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily gave the forum's title as "New North Korea-US Dialogue, the Korean Peninsula at a Crossroads: Asking the Elders for the Way." Both noted that Moon was special adviser for unification, diplomacy and security to former President Moon Jae-in and, this year, an adviser to the Democratic Party's special committee on a new strategy for peace on the Korean Peninsula. [ 2 , 3 ]

Moon said the United States sees South Korea as a forward base for checking China, and warned of the risk of being drawn into US-China rivalry. Looking 20 to 30 years ahead, he said, the alliance "could become a curse." He called for a shift from a collective defence alliance to a collective security system and a new security community. Seoul Economic Daily reported that he said the alliance had contributed to South Korea's security and economic development, and that he offered a multilateral security arrangement involving China, Russia and North Korea as a long-term alternative. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

Song Min-soon, the 34th foreign minister, said the alliance is "neither a blessing nor a curse but a reality" and argued for keeping the framework while expanding South Korea's autonomy. Yonhap reported that he also said South Korea should secure nuclear potential, through uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, in response to North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Moon replied that South Korea should stress only peaceful, commercial use of nuclear energy and uphold the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Chang Dal-joong, honorary professor at Seoul National University, questioned whether the idea was feasible or worth pursuing. [ 1 , 3 ]

Yoon Young-kwan, the 32nd foreign minister, proposed that South Korea use its strength in shipbuilding, semiconductors, nuclear power plants, batteries and defence to secure practical gains from the Trump administration on security commitments and nuclear cooperation, Yonhap reported. [ 1 ]

All three outlets reported a clash between Moon and Chang over whether North Korea can be seen as a trustworthy negotiating partner. Moon said North Korea should be accepted as it is and that its concerns about regime collapse should be understood. Chang said North Korea had broken all its agreements. Moon replied that he was not taking North Korea's side and that it should be viewed objectively, adding that there are claims the United States also broke agreements in nuclear talks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

On a possible North Korea-US summit, Moon cited the burden on Kim Jong Un of the failed 2019 Hanoi summit and said it looked "very difficult" in practical and procedural terms. Yonhap reported that Song also rated the chances low but left open a meeting for political show, while Chang said he expected Trump to have great interest. Yoon said he viewed Trump's attempts at dialogue with the North positively but warned of an outcome that could be bad for South Korea. [ 1 , 2 ]