Foreign Ministry stresses need for parliamentary ratification to renegotiate 'defense pact'

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need to complete the ratification of the National Assembly in preparation for the possibility of the incoming U.S. administration demanding that the U.S. renegotiate the special agreement on defense contributions between South Korea and the U.S.

A high-ranking foreign ministry official said that even if renegotiations are made, ratifying the National Assembly and letting them take effect strengthens our position in the renegotiation process.

At the same time, he pointed out that if the renegotiation is prolonged without completing parliamentary ratification, the deadline for the agreement will expire and legal stability will become unstable due to the absence of the agreement.

On the possibility of the second Trump administration's dialogue with the U.S., the official also checked the possibility of the so-called "Tongmibongnam," saying, "What is important is our initiative, and I think the dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea should take place in a process that reflects our position."

Regarding the possibility that denuclearization negotiations between North Korea and the U.S. will actually go to disarmament negotiations, the priority seems to be falling as the number of opportunities for denuclearization negotiations decreases, but it is a different story that the actual policy moves, and he stressed that South Korea and the U.S. do not have to doubt the denuclearization goal.