Seoul’s top envoy to Washington cautioned Thursday against economic “protectionism” as he highlighted the need to address barriers that preclude full defense industrial cooperation between South Korea and the United States.
Speaking at a think tank forum, Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong pointed to a U.S. legal mandate requiring U.S. military ships to be built in America as a challenge limiting efforts to expand collaboration between the U.S. and its foreign partners.
“This issue is particularly salient right now as the approaching election increased the call to protect American manufacturing and the associated jobs,” he said during the forum hosted by the Washington-based Hudson Institute.
“Nevertheless, this is a pivotal moment, and we must recognize that cooperation offers greater benefit than protectionism,” he added.
This file photo, taken Sept. 25, 2024, shows South Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong speaking during a meeting with reporters in Washington, D.C. (Yonhap)
This file photo, t
aken Sept. 25, 2024, shows South Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong speaking during a meeting with reporters in Washington, D.C. (Yonhap)
Expounding the global security landscape marked by Russia’s war in Ukraine, its military alignment with North Korea and conflicts in the Middle East, Cho underscored the importance of tighter cooperation among allies and partners.
He cited shipbuilding as one potential area of cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. as he noted the disparity in shipbuilding capacity between the U.S. and China. He cited a congressional report that China has over 230 times the shipbuilding capacity of the U.S. and possesses the world’s largest maritime fighting force operating 234 warships to the U.S. Navy’s 219.
“Korea is the world’s second-largest shipbuilding country, with a 30 percent market share, and a reputation for efficiency and excellence,” he said.
While the U.S. remains “unmatched” in its ability to produce the most technologically advanced military asse
ts for its naval force, expanding ship production and strengthening the industrial base cannot be accomplished “overnight” or “by itself,” he said.
“We can best enhance our capabilities and accelerate innovation to ensure us a secure future at sea only by working together with the trusted partners whose strengths complement our own,” he said.
Cho enumerated South Korean firms’ efforts to find “innovative” ways to enhance cooperation with the U.S., including acquiring a U.S.-based shipyard and participating in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of ammunition ships.
“The momentum is there, but we must do more,” he said. “This is a moment to deepen our partnership and strengthen our industries even further.”
Source: Yonhap News Agency