Korean-American lawmaker Young Kim says: Factions that led presidential impeachments undermine ROK-US alliance

Jan 08, 2025, 03:07 pm

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Rep. Young Kim speaks during the Korean War Veterans and Armistice Day Commemoration Reception at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., July 28, 2023./ Source: Washington correspondent Ha Man-joo

Washington correspondent Ha Man-joo

A Korean member of the U.S. House of Representative criticized the factions leading the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol for attempting to weaken the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral partnership, as well as for pushing for a declaration to end the Korean War, which could provide a pretext for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea.

Representative Young Kim of California, a Republican, said in a contribution to the political media “The Hill” that “While the South Korea-U.S. alliance enjoys wide bipartisan support in the United States, factions, including those that have led the presidential impeachments in South Korea, have been working to undermine the alliance and the South Korea-U.S-Japan partnership.”

“With the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) expanding naval presence and unprecedented developments in North Korea’s relationship with Russia, the trilateral partnership’s long-term sustainability is vital for regional stability,” Kim said. “Now is the time to expand our joint exercises, people-to-people exchanges, and intelligence and technology cooperation, not back down.”

“Unfortunately, the original impeachment motion against President Yoon accused him of antagonizing North Korea, China and Russia, isolating South Korea within Northeast Asia, and being too pro-Japan,” she said.

“This same faction is pushing for a formal declaration to end the Korean War, which I have consistently opposed until we ensure full, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea and North Korean fundamental human rights are respected,” Kim said. “A unilateral end of war declaration without concessions from North Korea would undermine and destabilize security on the Korean Peninsula.”

“Such a premature declaration would also pose risks for U.S. forces in South Korea. Even as a political statement, this declaration gives North Korea and China the perfect talking point to demand the withdrawal of nearly 29,000 troops from the Korean Peninsula, the dismantlement of U.S. Forces South Korea, and the permanent termination of annual U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises,” she said.

“The erosion of our combined deterrence and faith in our alliance would have grave consequences for regional security in the Indo-Pacific. Our enemies like the CCP and North Korean regime are looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in our alliances and take advantage of any precarious situation,” she warned.

“The South Korea-U.S alliance is ironclad and built upon our shared values of freedom and democracy, human rights and the rule of law. However, with the recent political turmoil in South Korea, our economic and security alliance must remain strong. Despite facing one of its greatest challenges, I have faith in the democratic commitment of the Korean people,” she said.

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