Philip Goldberg, the nominee for the US ambassador to Korea, used “Comprehensive” in the CVID requested by South Korea at the House of Representatives hearing, revealing a gap with the “Complete CVID” of the US delegation-elect Yoon Seok-yeol.
Goldmug's nominee said, "CVID strengthens, expands and deepens the United States' deterrence policy and alliance with South Korea, and protects (allies) from North Korea's rogue regime at every opportunity and in violation of UN resolutions, its promises and international agreements. It is also in line with the US policy of doing everything possible for the sake of it.” “That (CVID) is a very difficult issue, and if we do not acknowledge this, I will admit it here. That (CVID) is something we have to keep working on and we have to be pretty adamant about it,” the Voice of America (VOA) reported on the 7th.
Goldberg, nominee, responded to a question asked about his views on North Korea policy related to the CVID target in relation to the US policy toward North Korea at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's confirmation hearing on the same day. It is in line with the US policy of doing everything possible to protect (allies) from the North Korean rogue regime that violates opportunities and UN resolutions, its promises and international agreements.” .
Regarding North Korea's further provocations, he said, "We must respond with a strengthened deterrence, with a strong alliance between the United States, South Korea and Japan, to prevent this threat from North Korea when sanctions are available, and when sanctions are available, diverse and strong enough to continue to be enforced. “We must be aware that this kind of thing (further provocations) can happen,” he said in a statement on the response policy of 'strengthening sanctions'.
CVID, which was condensed into 'complete verifiable and irreversible denuclearization' under Republican Trump's Moon Jae-in regime, was rejected by North Korea and switched to 'complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula' by the Democratic Party's Biden administration. The delegation called for CVID restoration in an interview with Deputy Secretary of State Sherman.
Goldberg, who served as the State Department's coordinator for UN sanctions enforcement under the Democratic Obama administration, said of sanctions, "Though sanctions work, they are not policies in and of themselves, and must be accompanied by American and global influence and other elements of power." The United States is pursuing cooperation with China and it should continue to do so. Sanctions are very important, but cannot function by themselves, so we should pursue not only sanctions but also progress in negotiations with North Korea, return to denuclearization discussions, and cooperation with China on North Korean issues.”
When asked if he thinks that the US ambassador to Korea should play a supporting role in improving relations between Korea and Japan, he replied, “Of course. South Korea and Japan, two technologically advanced and scientifically advanced democracies, clearly have reasons for further cooperation not only on the North Korean issue, but also on other issues in the region and around the world,” he said. "I want to work to reduce the economic dependence of the country," he said.
Regarding China and Korea's economic involvement, he said, "Korea is investing in the US for electric batteries for semiconductors, and there are many things we can do in the field of artificial intelligence. There are many kinds of areas where we can work with South Korea to help limit South Korea's dependence on China."
At a press conference held by the Korean Correspondent with all the delegation on the 7th, Park Jin, the head of the delegation to the US, also expressed to the US the need for a '2+2 talks' in which the foreign and defense ministers between the ROK and the US participate within this year and that it is desirable to hold a 2+2 meeting every year if possible. “The 2+2 meeting will try to find a way to do things in a 2+2 format, not only in defense and diplomacy, but also in economics and related sectors in terms of a comprehensive strategic alliance,” he said.
It was reported on the 6th that Kwon Chun-taek, a former political affairs minister who was a member of the National Intelligence Service and a diplomat at the US embassy in the U.S. as a candidate for the head of the National Intelligence Service pretending to be the Yoon Seok-yeol system, was the most likely candidate on the 6th.
The Chosun Ilbo said, “Kwon, a former official of the National Intelligence Service, was in charge of cooperation with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) while working at the US embassy in the United States. It is reported that this reflects the will of President-elect Yoon to transform the NIS into an overseas and North Korean intelligence agency by blocking the NIS from domestic politics and strengthening cooperation with US intelligence agencies.”
This is different from the system in which the US strictly separates the status of intelligence agents and diplomats.
In South Korea, since the Central Intelligence Agency, intelligence agents have been collecting information as diplomats at the embassy, and US intelligence agencies divide intelligence activities and diplomatic disguise into operations.
The Biden administration abolished the CIA-led approach to North Korea under Trump's Moon Jae-in regime, shifted the National Intelligence Service (DNI) to the intelligence service, and the State Department to lead diplomacy with North Korea, and dismantled the CIA's Korea Mission Center (KMC).