Trump diplomacy rattles South Korea

President Trump seems determined to
squeeze money out of South Korea,
said The Korea Times in an editorial.
When the U.S. began installing its
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
(THAAD) anti-missile system in the
southern Seongju County last month,
“anti- American sentiment” started to
rise among locals who believe the equipment
could make their region a target
of North Korea. Now Trump has exacerbated
that anger by demanding Seoul
pay the system’s $1 billion cost because,
he says, it’s “meant to protect South
Korea.” Yes, THAAD could save South
Korean lives in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, but
it will also protect the 28,500 U.S. troops deployed here. Trump’s
national security adviser, Gen. H.R. McMaster, tried to reassure
South Korea by saying that the existing THAAD agreement—
under which we provide the site and the U.S. pays to install and
maintain the system—would hold. But he then suggested that
this deal might be renegotiated. Sixty percent of South Koreans
supported THAAD in an April poll, but at this point, many must
“doubt whether it is really worth all this trouble.”
South Korea has already incurred the wrath of China for hosting
THAAD, said Kim Hyun-ki in Korea JoongAng Daily.
Although the system is primarily intended to shoot down North
Korean nukes midflight, its radar will also detect Chinese missile
launches. Beijing says that undermines its nuclear deterrent and
has taken “economic retaliation against South Korea,” denying
visas to our pop stars, blocking our hit TV shows, and rejecting
Korean cosmetics brands. We’ll suffer
more economic damage if Trump tears
up the U.S. free trade agreement with
South Korea, said Korea JoongAng
Daily. The president recently called
the pact—struck during the George W.
Bush administration—“horrible” and
threatened to terminate it. We clearly
face “unprecedented security risks
from Trump’s America First policy.”
If Trump insists on “degrading the
blood-forged Korea-U.S. alliance to
a mere interest-driven partnership,”
said Heo Mun-myeong in Dong-a
Ilbo, then let’s tally it up. “South Korea is not enjoying the U.S.
military umbrella for free.” Seoul already pays some $807 million
of the annual cost of keeping U.S. troops here, and it doesn’t
charge the U.S. for utilities, communications, or infrastructure
costs. South Korea also plays “a pivotal role” in supporting U.S.
strategy in Asia. Trump should “re-examine the true values of
the bilateral alliance” and “think twice before speaking.”
Pity our next president, said Dong-a Ilbo. THAAD was negotiated
under President Park Geun-hye, who has since been
impeached for corruption. Park’s successor, to be elected next
week, will have to be the one to make it clear that Seoul will not
foot the bill for U.S. weaponry. Front-runner Moon Jae-in has
supported reopening dialogue with North Korea and rethinking
THAAD altogether, while Ahn Cheol-soo favors the deployment
but says it should not be rushed and needs input from locals.
Whoever wins will face some “tricky negotiations with Trump.”