Chairman Wen, 120 Minute Marathon Security Ministers Meeting … US Presidential Election Results Tactile

President Moon Jae-in watched closely on the 5th day after the day before when he received a report on the count of the US presidential elections. Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden is in a dominant atmosphere with a last-minute setback, but the tally is still in progress and controversy over dissent is mounting.

The Blue House maintained a 24-hour monitoring system focused on the Office of Homeland Security the day before. Through the United States Presidential Preparatory Working Group (TF), with First Vice Minister Choi Jong-gun as the team leader, the team devoted all efforts to verify the market situation by examining the counting situation in real time. Since the results of the presidential elections have a significant impact on the situation on the Korean peninsula, the Blue House has prepared a specific response scenario for each situation.

The Blue House held a standing committee of the National Security Council (NSC) at 3 pm that day and intensively discussed the status of the US presidential elections. At a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Security Relations in President Moon for two hours starting at 4 pm, the impact of the election results and future government countermeasures were shared.

In a written briefing, Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok said: “The government has decided to cooperate so that there are no gaps in efforts to advance relations between the ROK and the United States and advance in the peace process on the Korean peninsula on the basis of a strong alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States, while continuing communication and consultations between the Republic of Korea and the diplomatic authorities of the United States steadily. In addition, he said, “We have decided to maintain close cooperation promoting the existing diplomatic calendar between Korea and the United States as planned.” At the meeting, attendees examined the effects of the US presidential election results on the macroeconomy, trade and industry, etc. of Korea from various angles. The Blue House argues that it has no choice but to be cautious until the electoral situation in the US becomes sufficiently clear. This is because the official move can only be made after the final recognition of victory or defeat among the US presidential candidates. Consequently, scenarios that are developed in accordance with diplomatic protocols, such as official comments, congratulations and summons to the summit of the ROK and the US, are all prepared and watch the results of the US presidential elections made. As the impact on the situation on the Korean peninsula varies depending on who the president of the United States becomes, it is known that two scenarios were prepared, each assuming the elections of candidates Donald Trump and Biden.

Inside the Blue House, there are voices mixed with concerns that if the controversy drags on, such as discontent with the results of the US elections, it could create a diplomatic vacuum. Basically, it takes at least five months to establish the federal government when the chosen person comes out, and the uncertainty of the situation on the Korean peninsula inevitably increases when urgent inter-Korean relations, etc. are taken into account.

Spokesman Kang said, “The government has decided to continue to focus on the progress of inter-Korean relations and the institutional peace settlement by constantly pursuing the peace process on the Korean peninsula while monitoring changes on the Korean peninsula and the international situation “.