U.S. Official Urges Unified ROK-U.S. Action on West Sea Threats

Kevin Kim, the Acting Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in South Korea, outlined on the 20th the "Joint Fact Sheet" summarizing...

Kevin Kim, the Acting Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in South Korea, outlined on the 20th the "Joint Fact Sheet" summarizing the results of the South Korea-U.S. summit, saying, "We need to address common challenges. This is particularly clear from recent developments in the West Sea (Yellow Sea)." His comments were seen as highlighting coordinated South Korea-U.S. actions on issues related to China, referring to Beijing's unauthorized construction of facilities in the Korea-China Temporary Measures Zone (PMZ) in the West Sea (Yellow Sea).

During a keynote address at the ROK-U.S. Diplomatic Forum in Seoul, Kim remarked, "We acknowledge that regional challenges are changing and that collaboration is necessary to tackle them." He further noted, "Recent developments in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) led U.S. President Donald Trump and President Lee Jae-myung to agree on boosting South Korea's defense budget, implementing new capabilities such as nuclear-powered submarines, and addressing emerging threats." This suggests that the U.S. endorsement of South Korea's nuclear submarine development was aimed at countering China's influence.

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea addressed the issue via a representative, stating "disappointment and astonishment at the U.S. official's inaccurate statements."

◇U.S. Charge d'Affaires' Speech: China Calls for 'No Aggression'

The U.S.-ROK Joint Fact Sheet, released on the 14th, did not explicitly reference "China." It only reiterated commitments to "ensure lawful maritime activities" and highlighted the "significance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," which is seen as addressing Beijing's efforts to assert control over the East and South China Seas. Nevertheless, Kevin Kim's public reference to the "West Sea (Yellow Sea) issue" made it clear that the main objective of U.S.-ROK security collaboration is to counter China's influence.

This might be interpreted as the U.S. encouraging South Korea—previously hesitant to challenge China—to "engage further, as the threat from Beijing is not a problem for someone else." On the 14th, Admiral Daryl Caudle, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, also remarked, "It is reasonable to expect that South Korea's nuclear submarines will serve as a deterrent against China." Kim added, "(New possibilities such as nuclear submarines) are feasible because South Korea is a reliable ally—one that actively invests in its own defense, takes responsibility, and continues to back U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula." This suggests that ongoing U.S. support for matters like submarine development relies on South Korea's collaboration with U.S. security strategies.

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea released a statement titled "Q&A on the Chinese Embassy in Korea’s Response to a U.S. Official’s Incorrect Remarks," which said, "Recent meetings between China, the U.S., and South Korea took place in South Korea, and the U.S. official's comments contradict the spirit of the leaders' agreements. We hope there will be no acts of provocation or incitement."

Initiatives to equip allies in response to threats from China and Russia are gaining traction not only within the U.S. government but also among academic experts. On the 19th (local time), Foreign Affairs released an opinion piece authored by Moritz Graefrath, a professor of International Security at the University of Oklahoma, and Mark Raymond, a professor of International Relations, titled "U.S. Allies Should Arm Themselves with Nuclear Weapons." They suggested, "The U.S. should reevaluate its strict stance on non-proliferation and support a limited number of allies, such as Canada, Germany, and Japan, in developing nuclear capabilities," introducing the idea of "selective nuclear proliferation." Granting reliable allies the ability to manage regional security through nuclear deterrence would ease the U.S. responsibility and offer these allies effective deterrence against regional rivals like China and Russia, resulting in a "win-win" situation.

Graefrath and others considered Japan a more suitable option for nuclear weapons compared to South Korea, due to the latter's "frozen conflict" with nuclear-armed North Korea. Nevertheless, they mentioned, "If Seoul chooses to develop its own nuclear capabilities, South Korea would also be a secure and dependable nuclear power."

The South Korean government has made it clear that it upholds the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) framework and has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapon development. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun mentioned on the 18th during the Seoul Diplomatic Forum, "A nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is a crucial objective that should never be set aside." Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back emphasized on the 4th at the ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), "As a signatory to the NPT, South Korea cannot possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances."