Ex-minister urges focus on nuclear rights, OPCON transfer amid global shifts

Former South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon has urged the current administration to focus national efforts on securing uranium enrichment rights and achieving the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States. In his book, "Good Fences, Good Neighbors," published last October, Song diagnosed South Korea as facing an unprecedented challenge in its 80-year history, stemming from North Korea's de facto nuclear state status and the emergence of Donald Trump's "America First" policy.

Song's proposed solutions involve pursuing "passive peace" by acknowledging the reality of division and seeking stability and coexistence with North Korea. Crucially, he advocates for building a "new Korean Peninsula nuclear balance" that integrates the U.S. nuclear umbrella with South Korea's latent nuclear capabilities. This stance marks a significant shift for Song, who previously championed engagement policies during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, including his role in the 2005 "September 19 Joint Statement" of the Six-Party Talks.

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The Republic of Korea has encountered seas that are difficult to navigate with the methods it has sailed for the past 80 years.

Reflecting on the international shifts since his book's publication, Song noted that events are unfolding in line with his concerns. He observed that Trump's policies are accelerating a relative decline in U.S. global power, citing the recent conflict with Iran as an example of the U.S. disregarding established principles of military intervention, such as clear objectives, public support, and exit strategies.

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President Lee should prioritize uranium enrichment rights and the transfer of wartime operational control, concentrating national capabilities on these issues.

Song highlighted a growing distrust in the U.S. alliance system, pointing to declining public support for the U.S. as an ally in NATO countries. He noted that European nations are increasingly considering self-reliance in countering Russia, with discussions of nuclear sharing and Germany expanding its conventional military capabilities and exploring nuclear potential. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have formed a security pact, signaling a move towards independent power balancing.

In East Asia, Song perceives a return to "sphere of influence" politics, reminiscent of the 19th century. He described a global landscape where the U.S. seeks dominance in the Americas and the Pacific, Russia in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, China in East Asia and the Western Pacific, and the EU in Western Europe. The greatest risk of conflict, he warned, lies in the collision of these spheres along the "first island chain" stretching from Kyushu, Japan, through Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Philippines, down to the Korean Peninsula.

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Trump's policies are accelerating a disadvantageous situation due to the relative decline of American power.

Addressing the concept of "middle power alliances," Song acknowledged the critique by Elbridge Colby, a U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, who called such discourse "hollow and futile" without U.S. involvement. While acknowledging Colby's sharp analysis regarding East Asia, where a coalition of South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines might struggle to counter China alone, Song stressed the importance of "wise solidarity" between South Korea and Japan. He believes such cooperation is essential for mitigating U.S.-China conflict, which he deems undesirable for the peninsula, and for enabling the U.S. to effectively pursue its Asian policies. China, too, would find its options constrained if South Korea and Japan align closely with the U.S.

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The United States' will and ability to lead the world have significantly diminished.