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| U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg speaks during an interview with Korean reporters at Habib House, his residence in central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap |
Trilateral partnership is neither 'new NATO' nor 'military alliance': Goldberg
By Jung Min-ho, Joint Press Corps
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg expressed support, Wednesday, for Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive wastewater from the disabled Fukushima nuclear power plant, saying Washington's position on that issue is aligned with that of Seoul.
"I think that our position, the U.S. and Korea's align," the envoy said during a meeting with Korean media outlets at Habib House, his residence in central Seoul. "Our reason for saying that is based on the science as we understand it. I think that Japan has also been open in the region and with us and others (including) the EU ― to describing to explaining what it's doing on a scientific basis."
Goldberg added, "I think Korea announced that they have several agreements moving forward, for example, having access to the IAEA facility at Fukushima. So this is going to be an ongoing process."
His remarks come just a day before the Japanese government begins releasing more than 1.3 million tons of treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean gradually over the next three decades, which is fueling political protests against the Yoon Suk Yeol administration for endorsing it.
Along with historical grievances, the Fukushima plan is one of many issues the two countries should work together to resolve, Goldberg said, expressing "hope for further improvement" in bilateral relations as the two countries join the U.S.-led trilateral security partnership.
"I think the logic of what took place at Camp David is that two modern democratic countries that share values and interests can move forward on several fronts," he said of the trilateral pact signed by Yoon, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden on Aug. 18.
Asked about the nature of their agreement, he said it is neither "a new NATO" nor a "military alliance," as some critics claim. Rather, he said it is a wide-ranging deal that includes "a whole host of modern 21st century issues."
"(The agreement includes) cooperation on artificial intelligence, quantum physics, our ability to protect supply chains and to do all kinds of important steps together that we can where we can achieve results that are greater as a whole than just one country," he added.
For instance, Seoul became a target of Beijing's economic coercion following a decision in 2016 to deploy a U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in North Gyeongsang Province. Beijing's retaliatory measures were called the "THAAD revenge." Under the pact, the three countries can consult to jointly respond to such diplomatic measures, Goldberg said.
The three-way partnership does not target specific countries, he said. But based on universal values, such as freedom and human rights, the three partners will work together to stand up to violators of the international law in the Indo-Pacific region, such as North Korea or China, he added.
Goldberg also expressed regret over Pyongyang's recent announcement of a plan to launch a satellite into space in the coming week, saying that would be a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions."
Addressing questions regarding the sustainability of the trilateral partnership, given divisive politics in Washington, he said he believes it would be enduring, thanks to "a tremendous bipartisan" support for it.
"And finally to again highlight the role that President Yoon undertook to play, or to make all of this occur," Goldberg said. "And I think that's an important reminder for all of us ― that it does take leadership and forward-looking policies to deal with some of the historical and other issues as well."
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