Seoul: A Korean American congresswoman has urged the United States, South Korea, and Japan to enhance their cooperative efforts in establishing a joint deterrence strategy in response to the growing alliance between North Korea, China, and Russia. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) emphasized the significance of this trilateral relationship during a video message at the Korean Peninsula Symposium, organized by Yonhap News Agency.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Kim highlighted a military parade held in Beijing last September, attended by leaders from China, North Korea, and Russia, as a pivotal moment that should alert the international community. She remarked that the image of Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, and Vladimir Putin together underlined the need for robust U.S. leadership and collaboration with allies like South Korea and Japan to forge a strong joint deterrence.
The congresswoman underscored that the partnership between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is now one of the most critical strategic alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, addressing threats posed by North Korea. She advocated for enhanced defense cooperation, intelligence sharing, economic collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges between the three democracies to bolster regional security and stability.
Rep. Kim's comments align with South Korea's ongoing efforts to strengthen trilateral security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan amidst escalating North Korean nuclear and missile challenges. Kim currently chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee's East Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee.
In a separate message, U.S. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) highlighted the importance of the U.S.-South Korea relationship for the stability of East Asia and globally. Bera, co-chair of the Congressional Korea Caucus, apologized for last year's detention of hundreds of South Koreans in Georgia due to visa issues, labeling it an embarrassment. He emphasized that such incidents should not occur between allies and assured that both Democrats and Republicans are working to resolve the matter, especially in terms of facilitating South Korean investments in the U.S.
Rep. Bera expressed optimism about the future of U.S.-Korea relations, envisioning a peaceful, prosperous, and kind 21st century.