Blinken Seeks Stability in Crisis-Hit South Korea

AFP/APP

Seoul: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in crisis-riven South Korea on Monday, aiming to foster stability in the key US ally amid political turmoil, including its complex relationship with Japan. This visit is likely to be Blinken’s final trip as the top US diplomat.

On the day an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol expires, Blinken will meet with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, and Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who has held the office for just over a week. Choi also serves as acting prime minister and finance minister.

Despite tensions, Blinken is expected to avoid partisan politics and focus on ensuring continuity in South Korea’s policy.

He will not meet President Yoon, who was briefly forced to impose martial law in December before backing down due to street protests and opposition from parliament. The political crisis continues, with Yoon’s acting successor also facing impeachment.

Protests against President Yoon and his government were audible outside Blinken’s hotel in the snowy capital.

Yoon’s push to improve relations with Japan, particularly through a 2023 summit with Japan’s former prime minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden, has drawn strong opposition from South Korea’s progressive factions.

These critics have historically held a hardline stance against Japan due to its colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945.

The South Korean opposition, led by Lee Jae-myung, also advocates for a more diplomatic approach toward North Korea than the current president’s policies.

The crisis in South Korea coincides with political shifts in the United States, where President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on January 20.

Trump has been critical of US commitments abroad, particularly regarding South Korea’s contributions to hosting US troops. Despite past tensions, Trump had previously formed a diplomatic bond with former President Moon Jae-in, focusing on North Korean diplomacy.

Blinken, who is expected to continue his trip to Japan and France, aims to reinforce the importance of US alliances during his final diplomatic journey.