Yun, Tillerson agree on collaborative response to N.K.’s threats

Yun, Tillerson agree on collaborative response to N.K.’s threats. February. 08, 2017 07:04. by Soong-Ho Cho, Young-A Soh shcho@donga.com,sya@donga.com. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held a telephone call with new U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and reaffirmed the Seoul-Washington alliance and bilateral collaboration in North Korea policy. The call came six days after Tillerson was inaugurated as the new top U.S. diplomat after clearing the Senate confirmation hearing on February 1 local time.

The two ministers agreed that the two allies will continue to further strengthen the South Korea-U.S. ties, which have developed into a comprehensive strategic alliance. Expressing his support of the Trump administration’s "Peace through power,” Yun said, “Let us begin sanctions and pressure against North Korea based on the solid principle of North Korea’s denuclearization.” Tillerson replied by saying that the two countries will continue to develop concerted approach towards the North Korean nuclear issue, which is an imminent threat. The two sides have agreed that they continue to develop specific countermeasures for Pyongyang’s nuclear development through talks between the chief negotiators for the six-party talks from the two nations.

The ministers also said, “Terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) deployment is a defensive action meant only to cope with North Korea’s threats,” and agreed to push ahead with THAAD deployment in South Korea. As the two ministers agreed that the two sides hold in-depth consultations in February, chances are high that South Korea and the U.S will hold bilateral foreign ministers’ talk at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting and the Munich Security Conference, which will take place in Germany from February 16.

Prior to his call with Minister Yun, Secretary Tillerson had a call with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. As the top U.S. diplomatic official said, “We are against any action that damages Japan’s administrative authority at the place” while commenting on the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in China), which are under territorial dispute between Beijing and Tokyo, heralding Washington’s intent to pressure Beijing. The Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun reported that Japan and the U.S. are also coordinating schedule for foreign ministers’ talks timed with Washington-Tokyo summit on Friday.