The Blue House Expresses Regret Over U.S. Forces Korea Commander Brunson's 'Dagger' Remark About South Korea

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\r\n[Financial News] As controversy grows over General Xavier T. Brunson's comparison of South Korea to a "dagger" aimed at China, the South Korean government is said to have conveyed its de facto regret over the remark to the United States.
\r\nAccording to the Blue House and others on the 30th, the diplomatic and security team, including Director of the Office of National Security Wi Sung-lac as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of National Defense, reportedly conveyed the South Korean government's position on Brunson's remarks to the United States through various channels.
Earlier, Brunson appeared on a podcast hosted by the United States Army War College on the 22nd and said, "Viewed from China's eastern coast, South Korea is like a 'dagger' at the center of Asia, while Japan is like a shield." The comment drew criticism for assessing South Korea's strategic value only through the lens of countering China and for instrumentalizing the position of a sovereign state.
Political circles also reacted strongly. Boo Seung-chan, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said in a statement that Brunson's remarks "arbitrarily defined South Korea's strategic standing, violated the people's sovereignty, and created diplomatic tensions," expressing deep regret. He added, "South Korea's diplomatic strategy is decided solely by the people, who are the sovereign."
China also responded sensitively. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Korea said through South Korean media that the remark had "clearly crossed the line" and strongly objected to South Korea being described as a forward base for U.S. Forces Korea.
Brunson also stirred controversy last May by describing South Korea's geographic location as a military-strategic tool, comparing it to a "fixed aircraft carrier" between Japan and China.
\r\nAfter the backlash, Brunson explained, "I was speaking in the context of describing the operational environment we face." According to foreign media, including NDTV, he made the remark during a session at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in response to a Chinese question asking whether the comment was the official position of the Trump administration or had been approved by the Pentagon.
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hwlee@fnnews.com Lee Hwan-ju Reporter