0314-Sharing defense burden

Despite Korea’s heavy economic reliance on America, the U.S. budget cuts known as the sequester may not affect this country much. 

This is less because the United States has given up its place as Korea’s largest export market to China, but because Seoul still believes in Washington’s ability to prevent the worst from occurring. 

That doesn’t mean, however, Korean exporters can remain complacent. They will have to prepare for any unexpected developments by diversifying shipment destinations further, bracing up for resurgent protectionism, and trying to maintain exchange rates at a proper level.

A more direct and immediate impact will be felt in another area on which the nation depends even more on its biggest ally - defense. The U.S. military spending is not only the biggest victim of the impending spending cuts but also an area subject to mid- to long-term budgetary axing. 

This is small surprise considering the two U.S. wars against terror, in Iraq and Afghanistan, are the main culprits behind its snowballing debt. It is even doubtful whether Washington’s much-heralded “pivot to Asia” would be possible financially. The sequester’s effect is expected to ripple over to the operation of existing U.S. troops in Asia, including Korea.   

In a letter sent to his soldiers on Feb. 27, James Thurman, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, said, “If the sequester goes on for a protracted period, the Pentagon will have to give their civilian workers paid vacation.” 

Moreover, all this is coming when the two traditional allies are about to open negotiations soon to readjust their defense burden sharing for the 2014-19 period. Already, the U.S. has asked Korea to expand its share from 42 percent to 50 percent, or about 200 billion
won, meaning Seoul’s total annual burden will exceed 1 trillion won for the first time if it accepts Washington’s request.

Even more burdensome than the increase is the impression that Korea plays the role of advance guard for America’s expanded military presence in Asia, by checking China’s dominance. Especially so if and when Seoul goes on to buy expensive weapons from Washington to expand its arsenal and help ease the latter’s budget constraint.

Adding fuel to such concerns is President Park Geun-hye’s appointment of National Security Council (NSC), most of whose top posts are filled with former four-star generals. The South Korean version of the “military-first” policy could make the NSC an unbalanced organization, which has neither ability nor will to bargain with its U.S. counterparts.

At a time when Seoul has to positively cope with a new political order in Northeast Asia with farsighted and highly-sophisticated diplomacy, the military-only NSC is far more than just a cause for concern. 

This is The Korea Times editorial for Tuesday, March 5, 2013.