Seoul: The U.S. immigration raid on Hyundai Motor Co.'s car battery plant in Georgia might enhance South Korea's standing in subsequent trade negotiations with Washington, according to a U.S. expert. Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), shared these insights during a meeting with reporters in Seoul, emphasizing that the mass detention of Korean workers may have caught President Donald Trump off guard.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cha described the incident as "ill-timed and embarrassing" for Trump, suggesting it might lead to Korea securing a more favorable investment agreement. He highlighted the recent visit by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and the initiation of discussions for a new visa system for Korean workers as Trump's efforts to "quickly rectify" the situation. Cha noted the significance of Trump negotiating a special visa agreement for Korea, as it contradicts his usual anti-immigration stance.
Cha also spoke about the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Korea, suggesting that Trump might see it as a chance to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He mentioned the possibility of a meeting between Trump, Kim, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, speculating that Trump may visit Beijing around the APEC summit, which he described as a "spectacular news event."
Addressing the United States' policy towards North Korea, Cha asserted that Washington remains committed to denuclearization. However, he warned that if Trump agrees to a peace agreement without real progress on denuclearization, it would effectively mean abandoning that goal. He expressed concerns over the deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea, especially the potential for Russia to provide weapons technology to North Korea. Cha warned that assistance in building a nuclear submarine for North Korea would be a significant threat.
Cha emphasized the lack of policy tools available to the U.S., Japan, or South Korea to drive a wedge between Russia and North Korea. He argued that sanctions would only push North Korea closer to Russia, while incentives would be consumed without altering North Korea's reliance on Russian support. Cha is currently in Seoul, having attended an international conference hosted by the Institute for Global Economics (IGE) and Woori Financial Group.