Steel: “China is the biggest threat” ... Brunson: “Korea-U.S. drills should be held year-round”

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel and United States Forces Korea commander General Xavier T. Brunson said the Korea-U.S. alliance should be strengthened to respond to threats from China, Russia and North Korea. Steel described China as the region’s greatest threat and stressed cooperation between South Korea and the United States, while Brunson called for more combined exercises to counter external threats, including military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Steel and Brunson attended a special luncheon meeting hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM Korea) on the 21st at Mondrian Seoul Itaewon in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where they made these points.
In a special address that day, Ambassador Steel said, “Security and prosperity are inseparable,” and noted that cooperation between South Korea and the United States had supported stability on the Korean Peninsula and economic growth. Steel also called China “the greatest threat in the Indo-Pacific region” and stressed the need for close cooperation between the two countries. She noted that China was expanding its influence over maritime trade routes in the region and taking a coercive stance toward neighboring countries.
On North Korea, she reaffirmed her previous position that the door to unconditional dialogue remains open, saying, “The important thing is to deter war.” She also said it was difficult to predict when talks between the United States and North Korea might resume, but noted the need for South Korea to participate. She stressed, however, that “North Korea has recently been improving the accuracy of its missile launches and has sent troops to fight in the Russo-Ukrainian War,” adding, “The United States and South Korea must work together to understand exactly what is happening and discuss how we can stop it.”
Referring to the recent trilateral military exercises involving South Korea, the United States and Japan, Ambassador Steel said, “We should strengthen not only bilateral cooperation between South Korea and the United States, but also cooperation with Japan.”
Brunson made clear that day his strong determination to hold combined Korea-U.S. exercises year-round. He said, “This week, I met with Jin Young-seung, chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, and discussed how we will train during the upcoming Freedom Shield (FS) exercise.” He added, “What we confirmed in that process is that we should not rely on just two major exercises each year to maintain our readiness.” He stressed in particular, “We need to train year-round,” and “We must keep improving to achieve the goals we have set.”
[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter