US-South Korean alliance vital for Indo-Pacific security

The U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Alliance is ironclad andbuilt 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.

The United States must pay attention. Why? Because South Korea is a key ally in keeping the Indo-Pacific free and open. As growing aggression from North Korea and malign influence from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) threaten a free and open Indo-Pacific, the U.S.-ROK alliance is more important than ever to deter these threats and promote peace through strength.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Acting President Han Duck-soo were both impeached in the span of weeks, and arrest warrants against President Yoon have been granted — continuing the political instability and polarization in the country.

While media coverage, including in the United States, has focused heavily on anti-Yoon protests, Koreans protesting the impeachment have also come out every day to Gwanghwamun in the heart of Seoul to wave South Korean and American flags. Regrettably, these images have been mostly ignored by Western media.

While the U.S.-ROK 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 U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral partnership. With the CCP’s 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.

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.

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. 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. Further, declaring unconditional peace handicaps our ability to accomplish critical national security objectives in the region.

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. Political turmoil and increasing anti-U.S. propaganda in South Korea give our adversaries a green light.

The CCP’s malign influence is growing bolder and brazen by the day; intimidation tactics and direct attacks against our allies in the South China Sea and efforts to hack global telecommunications networks — including now 9 U.S. telecom firms — are the new norm. In addition, according to our State Department, the CCP spends billions of dollars annually on foreign information manipulation efforts and conducts a massive information manipulation campaign to reshape the global information landscape. We must counter this and support our allies.

We also cannot turn a blind eye to North Korea’s aggression, nuclear ambitions and human rights abuses. That is why I introduced the North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act, which passed the House this Congress in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to take up the bill. In the new Congress, countering the North Korean regime and promoting U.S. leadership and values around the world will continue to be top priorities of mine.

The U.S.-ROK alliance must not fall on deaf ears in the United States or in South Korea. Stability and true democratic governance in South Korea are critically important for the United States to maintain a peaceful, free and open Indo-Pacific. Both Congress and the current and incoming administrations must work to ensure our continued commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance and a free and democratic South Korea.

Young Kim represents California’s 40th District.