South Korean Official Says Trump’s Visit Improved Relations
- 6 years ago
South Korean Official Says Trump’s Visit Improved Relations
In an interview, the leader, Choo Mi-ae, the chairwoman of the liberal Democratic Party of South Korea and the most prominent woman in the National Assembly, said Mr. Trump’s visit had "actually led to an improvement in our bilateral relations." Mr. Trump, she said, had now seen for himself
that 25 million Koreans — half the South Korean population — live close to the demilitarized zone that has divided North and South since the armistice that halted the 1950-1953 Korean War.
North Korea said that If there were to be a war, not only would all the lives be lost, but the achievements of Korea would become nothing overnight.
When he visited Camp Humphreys in South Korea, the biggest United States overseas military base, Ms. Choo said, it appeared to be a revelation
to him when the American commander, Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, said the South Koreans had borne 92 percent of the construction costs.
Ms. Choo said Mr. Trump seemed to have come away from his visit to South Korea with a new understanding of the
complexities on the Korean Peninsula, which has been divided by war and animosity for nearly seven decades.
Mr. Trump contends that South Korea does not pay a fair share of security costs with the United States, its most important
ally, even as South Korea has reaped economic benefits by enjoying a large trade surplus in the American market.
Mr. Trump, who in some ways is as much of a polarizing figure in South Korea as he is in the United States,
has stoked fears of a nuclear confrontation because of his insults and threats against North Korea.
Asked how she assessed North Korea’s relatively restrained behavior in recent weeks, Ms. Choo said she regarded it as significant and "in a sense, a signal"
that the North may be seeking a way for a diplomatic opening to de-escalate.
In an interview, the leader, Choo Mi-ae, the chairwoman of the liberal Democratic Party of South Korea and the most prominent woman in the National Assembly, said Mr. Trump’s visit had "actually led to an improvement in our bilateral relations." Mr. Trump, she said, had now seen for himself
that 25 million Koreans — half the South Korean population — live close to the demilitarized zone that has divided North and South since the armistice that halted the 1950-1953 Korean War.
North Korea said that If there were to be a war, not only would all the lives be lost, but the achievements of Korea would become nothing overnight.
When he visited Camp Humphreys in South Korea, the biggest United States overseas military base, Ms. Choo said, it appeared to be a revelation
to him when the American commander, Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, said the South Koreans had borne 92 percent of the construction costs.
Ms. Choo said Mr. Trump seemed to have come away from his visit to South Korea with a new understanding of the
complexities on the Korean Peninsula, which has been divided by war and animosity for nearly seven decades.
Mr. Trump contends that South Korea does not pay a fair share of security costs with the United States, its most important
ally, even as South Korea has reaped economic benefits by enjoying a large trade surplus in the American market.
Mr. Trump, who in some ways is as much of a polarizing figure in South Korea as he is in the United States,
has stoked fears of a nuclear confrontation because of his insults and threats against North Korea.
Asked how she assessed North Korea’s relatively restrained behavior in recent weeks, Ms. Choo said she regarded it as significant and "in a sense, a signal"
that the North may be seeking a way for a diplomatic opening to de-escalate.