Discord risks alliance

Two allies should boost mutual understanding

The escalating Seoul-Tokyo conflict over historical and trade issues is causing unexpected discord between South Korea and the United States. This awkward situation occurred after Washington criticized Seoul for deciding to terminate a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.

It is somewhat understandable that the U.S. has become irritated about Seoul's Aug. 22 decision to withdraw from the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). The Trump administration may see the decision as a direct challenge to its strategy of boosting trilateral security cooperation with its two Asian allies ― South Korea and Japan. However, Washington appears to have gone too far in putting all the blame on Seoul.

That's why South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Seiyoung called in U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris, Wednesday, to explain Seoul's position and ask Washington to stop protesting the decision to scrap the GSOMIA. Cho lodged a complaint with Harris over the mounting U.S. criticism leveled against Korea, a rare move. This means the Moon Jaein administration is taking the situation seriously.

Seoul is well aware of the importance of the GSOMIA which serves as a stepping stone for security collaboration with Japan in coping with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and China's military buildup. Nevertheless, it was inevitable for the South to abrogate the pact because Japan is expanding its export restrictions on strategic industrial materials that Korean firms badly need to produce high-tech goods.

U.S. officials need to understand why the South has decided to scuttle the GSOMIA in the face of the strong backlash from Washington. The reason is because the nationalist Shinzo Abe administration is weaponizing trade against Seoul, citing "damaged trust." Tokyo has removed the South from its "whitelist" of favored trade partners citing security concerns. The removal has made Seoul think that Japan no longer considers South Korea a partner not only in trade, but also security.

As Vice Foreign Minister Cho pointed out, Seoul's decision on the GSOMIA has nothing to do with the alliance with the U.S. South Korea has taken the flexible position that it can renew the GSOMIA before it expires in November, as long as Japan retracts its economic retaliation against the South.

Also worrisome is that the U.S. seems to have sided with Japan. A ranking U.S. official said Seoul's Aug. 25 to 26 military exercise aimed at defending the easternmost islets of Dokdo was not helpful in resolving the trade dispute with Japan. Such a remark is unprecedented as the U.S. has so far remained neutral on Dokdo, for which Japan continues to make territorial claims.

Against this backdrop, Washington should stop playing the blame game. It should make a joint effort with Seoul to clear away discord and boost mutual understanding. The U.S. is also required to help the South find a diplomatic solution to the trade war with Japan. only then can both countries become trusted allies in a real sense.