hankyoreh

Moon Chung-in, chairman of the Sejong Institute (Park Jong-shik/The Hankyoreh)

In an interview with Japanese newspaper the Asahi Shimbun, Moon Chung-in, chairman of the Sejong Institute, underlined the need for a “transcendental foreign policy” as the conflict between the US and China intensifies. If South Korea sides with the US, Moon warned, it would become harder to guarantee peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea.

“China will focus on supporting North Korea, and Russia will also bolster their alliance. That would place a much heavier security burden on South Korea, which would stand on the front line,” Moon said in the Sunday interview.

Moon also said that “the South Korean government is unlikely to participate in a regional association that leaves out any specific country,” referring to speculation about whether Seoul might join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as the Quad.

“The most desirable path is to forge good relations with every country. Since an intensifying conflict between the US and China will limit our choices, our actions should aim to mitigate that conflict.”

“I call this a ‘transcendental foreign policy,’ which I see as the way for South Korea to survive,” Moon added.

Moon also commented on cooperation between South Korea and Japan. “If Japan sides with the US, it will entrench a new cold war between the US and China. That would increase the security burden on both South Korea and Japan and also cause major economic harm.”

“South Korea and Japan need to cooperate if only to keep us out of a new cold war.”

Moon served as South Korea’s special presidential advisor for unification, foreign affairs, and national security through this past February.

By Kim So-youn, staff reporter

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