Seoul, Jan 11 (NationPress) US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan expressed that the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's unsuccessful martial law initiative was 'surprising' and 'incorrect', but showed optimism that 'structurally', the alliance between South Korea and the United States is 'extremely robust.'
During a press conference held on Friday, he mentioned that the Biden administration had not achieved any 'substantial' advancements towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, with security dynamics trending in the 'wrong' direction. However, he emphasized that America and its allies are in a 'materially better' position to deter threats from North Korea.
Sullivan raised concerns regarding the 'risk' of North Korea leveraging the current political instability in South Korea to initiate provocative actions, but reiterated that Pyongyang 'should not underestimate' the strength of the bilateral alliance, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
'I think the announcement of martial law in early December was shocking. I think it was wrong, and now we are observing a constitutional process unfold. We aim to ensure that it proceeds without violence and aligns with the ROK Constitution,' Sullivan stated, using the acronym for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
'I am confident that the ROK will emerge from this with robust democratic institutions and an enduring commitment to the US-ROK alliance,' he added.
South Korea is currently experiencing a phase of political uncertainty following Yoon's brief martial law declaration on December 3, 2024, and his subsequent impeachment on December 14, 2024.
The official conveyed an optimistic perspective for the Seoul-Washington alliance.
'I believe that structurally, when you assess over the long term, the US-ROK alliance is remarkably healthy, due to deep-rooted reasons, and also thanks to the developments of the past four years,' he articulated.
'I am uncertain about the direction the new team will take this alliance, but I am convinced it remains poised for success, regardless of the political turmoil unfolding within the ROK.'
Regarding North Korea, he acknowledged the lack of visible progress in the long-standing efforts to denuclearize the obstinate regime.
'Like our predecessors since Clinton, we have been unable to make significant strides on the denuclearization issue of the Korean Peninsula. The trend continues to move in the wrong direction, as it has under various administrations,' he remarked.
'I didn't enter this role with particularly optimistic expectations regarding our achievements, but this remains a matter of significant concern.'
Nevertheless, the senior security official highlighted advancements in strengthening deterrence against North Korea in collaboration with South Korea, Japan, and other partners.
'We will see what the new administration can accomplish, but I believe we have positioned ourselves and our allies in a materially improved stance to deter and address that threat, even if we haven't been able to directly mitigate it,' he noted.
When asked about the likelihood of North Korea initiating military provocations amid political instability in Seoul, Sullivan acknowledged a 'risk' of potential saber-rattling.
'I cannot predict with certainty what North Korea will do, but I do consider that a risk ... It is in American national security interests that the political crisis is resolved in accordance with the ROK Constitution as swiftly as possible,' he asserted.
'Even in the midst of ongoing political turmoil in the ROK, the US-ROK alliance remains robust, our deterrent is strong, our resolve is firm, and North Korea should not make any mistakes about that.'
Addressing the seriousness of the North Korean threat, he stated it remains 'acute', as it has under previous administrations.
'The North Korean threat was acute when President Obama left office. It was acute when President Trump vacated his position. It remains acute today,' he affirmed.
He pointed to the increasing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow, as well as the alignment of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as 'the most significant change from four years ago,' while noting discussions with the Trump team regarding the North Korea-Russia relationship as an issue the incoming administration will need to 'navigate.'
'My overall perspective is that this alignment is not uniform across these nations, and we should not perceive it as a single bloc at this moment. We have already taken measures to identify gaps and seams within it, and I believe the next administration should not approach it as a singular, unified bloc,' he stated.
'Moreover, this alignment is not emerging due to the strength of our competitors and adversaries, but primarily because of their vulnerabilities and the pressures they are facing. While it is indeed threatening, we should realistically assess that these nations are looking to each other due to a lack of alternatives.'
Sullivan emphasized that the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific strategy, aimed at strengthening a network of US alliances and partnerships to tackle shared challenges, is proving effective in a 'significant' way. He expressed hope for policy continuity under the incoming administration.
'I hope they will continue this approach. As I mentioned, when observing prominent Republican voices, this is an area where I perceive more convergence than debate or criticism,' he concluded. 'This gives me hope for continuity.'
