Kim Tae-hyo, Trump’s preference, ‘Army buildup, defense industry advancement’ Harris’s ‘security education’ antipathy
Kim Tae-hyo, deputy director of security, announced that he favors Republican candidate Trump in the US presidential election and ‘Korean defense industry advancement into the US for military buildup.’
On the 3rd, Kim, the first deputy director of security, said, “If former President Trump is elected, (omitted) the US security umbrella will weaken, and if security instability in conflict areas increases, opportunities for Korean defense industry exports may increase,” and “If the US increases defense spending in response to the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, China, etc., the possibility of our defense industry companies entering the US market will increase accordingly,” he said in a lecture at the Sejong Institute forum.
Deputy director Kim especially emphasized that “since Korea is far superior in ship repair and maintenance, the US strongly wants our help,” and “Korean products can enjoy windfall profits due to pressure on Chinese auto parts and batteries,” emphasizing that Trump’s election is advantageous to Korea.
Vice Minister Kim expressed his disapproval of the possibility of Democratic candidate Harris’s election, saying, “The names of the staff advising Vice President Harris on foreign affairs and security and the strategists advising on social issues are unfamiliar, and I am a little worried about whether they will be able to exert strong charisma in the U.S. administration when they take office.” He added, “When I deal with them, I feel like I have to teach them. We need to quickly select important issues and drive them forward, but it will take time for them to understand, learn the work, and become confident.”
Vice Minister Kim then expressed his negative view of Harris, saying, “If we infuse veterans and create a harmonious group with weighty members, we will also be easier to deal with.” He also expressed his negative view of Harris due to her “unstable security system.”
Deputy Director Kim, targeting the Harris campaign camp, said, “We see Korea as a strong partner in creating an international order based on pragmatism,” and “If elected, we will use a sophisticated ‘derisking’ strategy against China, following the Joe Biden administration,” expressing his opposition if they try to drag Korea along in their crisis management strategy toward China.
On the other hand, Deputy Director Kim said, “If Trump takes office, there may be greater demands for participation in economic sanctions against China or political, diplomatic, and military pressure,” and “The Republican Party is more likely than the Democratic Party to demand a clearer position and contribution from Korea on the East China Sea and South China Sea issues, as well as the Indo-Pacific region as a whole,” interpreting it as “expanding Korea’s participation in regional security.”
Most Korean media outlets reported Deputy Director Kim’s lecture that day as “Deputy Director Kim is negative about Trump’s election,” saying, “If former President Donald Trump is elected in the US presidential election, the US security umbrella may be weakened.”