정부, 美 대선에 촉각...외교부 TF 가동, 국방부•통일부 '예의 주시'
The 2020 U.S. Presidential election comes at a crucial time when there are several unresolved issues between Seoul and Washington.
These include the stalled denuclearization talks with Pyeongyang,... as well as bilateral issues between the two allies.
Live in Seoul, Arirang's very own foreign affairs correspondent Yoon Jung-min joins us from the nation's foreign affairs ministry.
Jungmin, Seoul is also closely following the presidential election in the U.S., isn't it?
Right, Conn-young.
The South Korean government says it is keeping close tabs on the U.S. Presidential election.
Seoul and Washington have a series of issues in need of a resolution.
These include the stalled defense cost-sharing negotiations, denuclearization talks with North Korea,... and other issues between the allies amid the rising U.S.-China rivalry.
The two countries also need to further work on the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul.
To check 'post-election' strategies,... Seoul's vice foreign minister Choi Jong-kun earlier teamed up a task force from related departments,... including the North American Affairs Bureau and the North Korean Nuclear Affairs Bureau.
On Tuesday, Seoul's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha and unification minister Lee In-young met with ruling party lawmakers at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.
They discussed the government's post-U.S. election plan.
Now, Seoul's defense ministry says it's preparing for issues involving the OPCON transfer and Seoul-Washington defense alliance.
The defense ministry is also keeping a close eye on a possible military provocation by North Korea after the U.S. Presidential election.
Now, what are immediate plans do South Korean officials have for when the election is over?
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha plans to visit Washington this month.
She will be focusing on managing the issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula while there.
Sources say the top diplomat will also try to check who will be in charge of foreign affairs for the incoming U.S. administration.
Kang is currently adjusting her schedule with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
It is likely that Kang will make her trip some time around the second week of November.
Also, Unification Minister Lee In-young signaled today,... that he might travel to the U.S. after the election,... apparently to add momentum to the government's push for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
He said he would comment on that later at the right time. Connyoung.
Yoon Jung-min live from Seoul's foreign affairs ministry. Thanks, Jungmin.
