Home » World » “Trump, give too much to Kim Jong-un…provocation only slows down the North American talks”

“Trump, give too much to Kim Jong-un…provocation only slows down the North American talks”

Ami Vera, Chairman of the East Asian Pacific Subcommittee, US House Foreign Relations Committee

– “We sent a message to North Korea not to provoke. Provocations only make the 4th US-North Korea summit more difficult.”

Interview with Ami Vera, chairman of the US House of Representatives East Asia Pacific
“Biden government, more cooperation and dialogue with Korea”
“Part of the joint military exercises between Korea and the United States will resume”
“Immediate compromise at the current level of defense cost contribution”
“Reduction of US forces in Korea is the only thought of Trump”

– On the 20th (local time), immediately after President Joe Biden’s inauguration, North Korea could conduct a missile test, Rep. Amibera (California), who is the chairman of the US House Foreign Relations Committee’s East Asia Pacific Committee, issued a warning message with concern. In a telephone interview with JoongAng Ilbo on the 19th.

He said that he did not object to the dialogue between the leaders of the United States, but said that the priority is to set up a new dedicated team on the Korean Peninsula and go through a consultation process with the alliance. Regarding President Donald Trump’s U.S.-North Korea summit, he said, “I gave up too much to North Korea and gave up,” and mentioned the resumption of reduced-ROK-US coalition training. In the Biden era, he said, “There will be more dialogue and cooperation” between the ROK and the United States, moving away from the Trump-style’unpredictable’ approach to North Korea.

He also predicted that the US-Korea defense cost negotiations, which had been difficult in the Trump administration, “sit right at the table and conclude, and a compromise will be made at the present level.” On this day, the nominee of Defense Minister Lloyd Austin said in the response to the confirmation hearing that “we will conclude an early negotiation of defense cost sharing with Korea.” He said that it is possible to negotiate future negotiations regarding the size of the USFK, but that is not the time now.

Rep. Vera, who joined the House of Representatives in 2013 as a member of the Democratic Party, is co-chair of the’Korea Caucus’, a group of Jihanpa members. In November of last year, Congressman Thomas Sooji and the ROK-US alliance reinforced a resolution to be passed by representative.

The following are questions and answers.

What is the biggest difference between the Trump administration and the next administration in Korea-US relations?

As was the case with our parliament, it would have been difficult for the Korean government to guess which direction President Trump was going. Let’s recall four years ago. We talked about’flame and anger’ and then suddenly had a summit meeting with the US. If the Trump administration’s policy on the Korean Peninsula is expressed in one word, it is’unpredictable’. In the future, there will be more dialogue and cooperation between the United States and Korea on the issue of the Korean Peninsula. President Moon Jae-in was one of the first calls from Biden-elect. Biden-elect, Secretary of State Tony Blincoln’s nominee, and the new diplomatic and security team will immediately reaffirm the strong alliance between the two countries.

The Trump administration is making the US-North Korea summit a success.

I am not against conversation. However, during the first summit, President Trump gave up too much to North Korea. Such as the reduction of joint military exercises between Korea and the United States. These trainings were important to both countries. I think some joint training will resume.

On the 14th, a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) appeared during the parade ceremony in commemorating the 8th Congress of the North Korean Labor Party. Rep. Ami Vera said, “If North Korea provokes in time for the inauguration of the US president, it will be far from the 4th US-North Korea summit.” [연합뉴스]

There were reports that North Korea could test-fire a missile in time for Biden’s inauguration ceremony.

We have sent messages to North Korea and Kim Jong-un not to engage in such provocations. He is known to do such a provocation every time a new government enters the United States. However, such provocations will make it more difficult to sit at a conversation table with each other and to make the ‘4th North American Summit in the future’ more difficult.

Will the new President Biden and Chairman Kim Jong-un meet sooner or later?

First, President Biden must form a team on the Korean Peninsula, send a new ambassador to South Korea, and a special envoy to deal with North Korea issues is also needed. These are the urgent things right now. Then, by discussing not only with the Korean government but also with alliances in the region such as Japan, they will be able to formulate the direction and strategy of North Korea policy.

What will be the impact on the Korea-US defense cost share negotiations?

The level of demand from the Trump administration was too high. I am grateful that (Korea) has raised the share that I have to share in good faith. The Biden administration sits right at the bargaining table, draws conclusions, and believes it will compromise at the present level. This is the first issue that the two countries can conclude. Both Democrats and Republicans want to see conclusions at the parliamentary level.

The Trump administration often mentioned the reduction of US forces in Korea.

Now is not the time to cut. Such discussions may arise in the future, but now North Korea is said to be testing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and tensions with China are increasing. Even in Congress, both Democrats and Republicans think it is not the time. The reduction of US troops in Korea is a story of President Trump alone.

On the 6th, an unprecedented incident of invasion of a mob invasion occurred. Are you in Congress at the time?

It wasn’t in the House of Representatives, but in the Capitol. It was a sad day in American history. It was also the day when the situation of the Trump administration culminated. Now that I think about it, it was very important and well done that the Senate and House of Representatives went back to the conference hall that night to certify Biden and Harris for the election. As a result, tomorrow (the 20th) will be able to see a peaceful transfer of power to President Biden and Vice President Harris.

US Congressman Ami Vera is giving a debate speech on the 13th (local time) prior to a vote on President Donald Trump's impeachment bill. [CSpan 캡처]

US Congressman Ami Vera is giving a debate speech on the 13th (local time) prior to a vote on President Donald Trump’s impeachment bill. [CSpan 캡처]

President Trump’s impeachment bill passed the House of Representatives. Some talk about whether we must impeach the president after his term of office.

He impeached President Trump because he tried to overturn fair elections, went against our Constitution, and stood up to democratic principles. This is important to us. That’s why the House of Representatives took action. Now it is the Senate’s turn. Impeachment doesn’t just kick him out of the office, it also prevents him from running in the future. I strongly believe that Congress should prevent President Trump from running for future elections. Not just for the presidency, but for any position.


The result of the Georgian federal senator, who took the final vote on the 5th, was approved on the same day. As two Democratic candidates, John Osoff and Rafael Warnock, were elected, the Senate composition became 50-50, Democratic and Republican. As Vice President Kamala Harris, who holds the casting boat, is the chairman of the Senate, as a result, the Democratic Party has become the majority party, but two-thirds of all seats must approve for the decision to impeach the president. On that day, however, Senate Representative Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republican Party, criticized President Trump as “the head of the congressional invasion.” The vote of the Republican Party was also unknown.

To what extent do you see the probability of being guilty at the Senate impeachment hearing?

All the senators also saw the riot that day. I witnessed President Trump, who lost the election, tried to overthrow the next government without letting go of power. The fact is very clear. I believe our fellow Senators, especially Republican colleagues, understand this very well. You are well aware of the dangers President Trump has posed to our democracy.

Some say,’Even if President Trump goes, Trumpism will remain.’

Everyone knew that there was always racism and white-centered nationalism in America. But that was revealed publicly this time. We must now face it head-on, admit it openly and act with courage and conviction. Thanks to what happened on the 6th, it could be easier. Law enforcement agencies are now capturing the rioters. Over the next two years, Congress will also move actively on this issue. It is true that the last 6 days were a big crisis for our democracy. But through this, our democracy will get better and stronger.


Washington = Correspondent Pilkyu Kim [email protected]




Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.