United States Urging South Korea to Join Quad

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on April 11 that U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urged the South Korean government on April 2 to join the Quad and the South Korean government refrained from answering, saying that a regional structure against a certain country is something that should be avoided.

That day, the South Korean government asked him to resume U.S.-North Korea talks as early as possible. However, he remarked that the talks would be resumed only after more organized preparations. In addition, he mentioned nothing as to when U.S.-South Korea summit talks will take place.

In the meantime, the Sejong Institute said in its interview with the Asahi Shimbun that it would be not easy for South Korea to ensure peace and prosperity in the Korean Peninsula if it sided with the United States.

“The South Korean government’s official stance is that a structure such as the Quad should be avoided because it is against a certain state,” it said, adding, “The South Korean government needs to take conflict-reducing measures because its options will decrease as U.S.-China disputes intensify.” It continued to say, “South Korea needs to act as a conflict preventer pursuing multilateral cooperation and regional integration.”