New South Korean president Lee Jae-myung puts pragmatism on abroad policy

chiny24.com 3 months ago

In his first week of office, the fresh South Korean president Lee Jae-myung made key talks with leaders of planet powers, signaling a pragmatic approach to abroad policy. At the heart of his efforts is to keep a balance in relations with China and the United States and to effort to affect Beijing in the issue of safety in the Korean Peninsula.

Conversation with China: Invitation to the APEC Summit and call for cooperation

On Tuesday, Lee had a 30-minute telephone conversation with China's president Xi Jinping, during which he invited him to participate in the Asia-Pacific economical Cooperation Summit (APEC), scheduled for late October in Korean Gyeongju. president Kang Yu-jung said that China is simply a "important economical and safety partner" for South Korea.

"President Lee called on China to play a "constructive role" in the process of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and ensuring regional security," Kang said. The Chinese leader declared his willingness to cooperate for peace, although Beijing has remained the main ally of North Korea for years.

Challenge: Balance between the US and China

Lee, who took office after winning the early elections on June 3, must find a way to keep a good relation with both Washington and Beijing – 2 key but competing Seoul partners. In his beginning speech, he announced a “pragmatic” abroad policy, geared towards the interests of South Korea, avoiding unequivocally speaking on either side.

“South Korea has limited powers to influence superpowers and can be forced to make hard choices,” warns analysts.

First contacts with the West and silence from the North

Since taking office Lee has already spoken to US president Donald Trump and nipponese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This week he will meet them personally at the G7 summit in Canada, to which South Korea was invited as a guest.

Meanwhile, North Korea, with which Lee, as a leftist politician, traditionally advocates reconciliation policy, has not commented on his choice. Experts point out that Pjongjang, a closer ties to China and Russia, has partially lost interest in dialog with Seoul.

"North Koreans don't peculiarly care if Seoul is ruled by the left or right. They want to know if they can draw money from the South," said John Everard, erstwhile British ambassador to Pyongyang.

Who's Lee Jae-myung? fresh President's fresh Year's Eve

Lee Jae-myung (59 l.) is simply a erstwhile provincial politician of Gyeonggi and mayor of Seongnam, known for its progressive views and criticism of social inequality. During the campaign, he promised economical reforms and greater social support. It belongs to the left wing of Korean politics, which traditionally advocates a softer course towards North Korea, including through humanitarian and economical cooperation.

His triumph in the early elections was partially a reaction to public discontent with the policies of the erstwhile conservative government. Lee now needs to prove that he can reconcile interior reforms with geopolitical challenges.

Source: