earlier today, Vice President Kamala Harris disclos
that she will visit the demilitarized zone between
north and south Korea as part of her trip to Asia, the
visit to the dems will likely raise the antenna of
north korean leader kim jong un. Just one day before
the Vice President's arrival in the area, North Korea
did five. It's 19th ballistic missile of the year into
the waters of the korean peninsula. In a CNN interview
with South korean Korea's president, they say their
biggest concern is North Korea's nuclear missile threat.
But he looks forward to working with the U.S. To
contribute, contribute to globa peace and stability of
state of my country as well as the korean military. I
would like to note that our alliance with the United
States is expanding its horizons to economic fields as
well as cutting edge technologies. Tokyo corres
Richard Kimber joins us now with more on these
international relations and how the Vice President's
trip will contribute to them. Vice President has just
left Japan where she met with the new prime minister.
Let's take a quick listen, the alliance between Ja
and the United States is a cornerstone of what we
believe is integral to peace, stability and prosperity
in the indo pacific region and it is something we
prioritize because we also beli it is in the best
interest of the american people So Japan has been very
concerned about china and the potential invasion of
Taiwan Richard, What is the likelihood of the new prime
minister brought this up with uh Kamala Harris That's
right. This has been a major talking point between the
Japanese prime Minister and the U.S. Vice President
because Japan is at a crossroads really, the state
funeral of the former Prime minister. Shinzo Abe is
really exposing the social division here in the country,
between those who really want to pursue more of Shinzo
Abe's nationalistic policies of increasing defense
spending and even revising the country's longstan
pacifist constitution in a bid to ultimately protect
itself against these types of threats. And that's
exactly what it's understood that Fumio Kishida was
discussing with Vice President Kamala Harris, the need
for Japan to be more integrated in an allied respons
to what it sees as threats from china and north Ko
towards this part of the world. During the tensions
that escalated very quickly towards Taiwan, there were
missiles being fired from china into areas of ocean
that Japan claims as its own. And that's really
escalated the sense of urgency on the part of the
Japanese government to seek allied support from the US
with regards to its own defense strategy. And of course
any chinese action against Taiwan, not only would drag
us in what, what would bring that entire region into
that conflict. So there's high concern about that. Let
me ask you this too, what can we expect from Vp Harris
trip to the demilitarized zone between north and south
Korea. We've seen many other leaders in the past take
this trip. What do we expect this time around Yes, we
she's pursuing this effort really. While she's in this
region to develop what has been called by US officials
an ironclad commitment to regional stability and what
that really means of course is making a clear message
that the U.S. Supports Japan and the US supports South
Korea and it does not support North Korea and
ultimately probably not china either. And that's why
these visits are being pointedly directed in the north
korean and chinese direction. The real symbol of her
going to South Korea's demilitarized zone is that she
wants to make it clear according to US officials that
there will be no backing down on the part of the US
towards pressurizing pyongyang to denuclearize the last
high profile time of course that we saw a U.S. Official
visit in this way was former President Donald tru
meeting with kim jong Un at that very border that won't
be happening this time because the diplomatic relation
have really broken down since then. But there's US
drills taking place right now with the south korean
military off the coast of south Korea and Kamala Harris
is expected to meet with US commanders to get a
briefing on how those are going and those drills are
certainly irking the north korean establishment, the
ambassador to the United Nations has caused those
drills a vicious cycle of tension and confrontation,
they're blaming the US for stoking the fires over this.
But there's clearly no effort on the part of South
Korea Japan or the US to back down over this. And
that's why this visit from Kamala Harris is so symbolic
that she's going not just to Seoul but to the D M.Z
right up to the border of North Korea. And of course
North Korea, as you said, test fired that missile
surely before the Vice President left Washington on on
sunday, sort of sending a message and taking up the
tension a little bit as a backdrop to this trip.
Correspondent Richard Kimber reporting live there in
Tokyo. Richard's always thank you sir. Well, joining us
now with some context on the importance of the Vice
President's trip is Ellen kim Deputy director and Korea
Chair at the Center for Strategic and International
Studies. Thanks so much for your time this morning. We
certainly appreciate it. Ed lot to get to. So as I
mentioned, the second North Korea fired its 19th
ballistic missile into the sea on sunday. Just as VP
Harris was getting out of Washington to make her way to
Asia. What do you think the message there was We
certainly have seen many of these test fires before.
What was the message of this particular one. Do you
think so, thank you. So I believe that North Korea's
recent um, just fired another short range ballistic
missile this in nearly four months. Um, this is another
violation the U.N. Security Council resolutions by
North Korea. And and this was a clearly message against
sending to South Korea and United States as the two
countries are prepared to um conduct a joint military
exercises involving the U.S. Aircraft carrier which
came arriving. And so South Korea in for the first time
since 2019. So you know the north Korea has been always
been criticizing the US Rok joint military exercise. So
this is clearly as a U.S. Hospital policy. North Kor
and has been defying the um US rok um christian talks.
Um as this is a clearly addicting threat to the
Korea's regime. And Japan of course has been very
concerned about China's saber rattling regarding Taiwan
It's been going on needless to say for many many years
and certainly Speaker Pelosi's trip ratcheted up that
tension as well. Um Japan's prime Minister condemne
China's recent military action in the Taiwan strait. So
should that be looked at as business as usual or
something more It does seem that the tension is is
flaring up. I'm just wondering is there something
really boiling here or is it more bluster Well
President biden recently stated that U.S. Force will
defend Taiwan if china invades the island. So I think
that this is increasingly a very dangerous situation
for um the for the region. And I think that Japan
particularly perceived that Tai is um the any
military intervention in Taiwan creates a major threat
for Japan because of geographical proximity as well
the Japan's ongoing historical territorial dispute
China in the East China Sea the problem, South Korea is
also perceived China's um situation, confrontation wit
Taiwan is a very serious, but South Korea is a bit um
nervous or cautious about Taiwan issues. Um because
largely um South Korea perceived security threat um is
um priority is on North Korea. President Yoon Son
actually stated recently that um North Korea's nuclear
and missile threat is an imminent threat to South Korea
and the war over Taiwan could actually lead to the
North Korea's provocations adding that North Korea's
threat. Um it needs to be met by the South Korea 1st.
So, South Korea's policy priority actually presen
limitations in the US rok japan trilateral cooperatio
on Taiwan issues. Um, and I think it was the president
of South Korea was recently cau on a, on a hot mic.
Uh Calling members of the U.S. Congress idiots an
unfortunate moment. But of cour you won't see any of
that tough language or candid language. Winning meets
with the Vice President. What does South Korea though
want to hear from VP Harris, what what do they need
from us now that they may have not gotten from previo
administrations. How's that dynamic there changed Well,
so the President's South korean President's office has
flatly denied that President Yoon had insulted the U.S.
Congress and hot mic. And um clearly um that any true
media reports by the korean, South Korea media repor
uh, is threatening South Korea important relations
of United States and the White and the korean
government official made a clarification with the White
House uh and US United States has been basicall
keeping a distance away from this diplomatic issues
with South Korea. So I think that um President Vice
President Harris Trip presents an opportunity for South
Korea to show that the U.S.R.K. Alliance remains s
and remains unscathed by this diplomatic controversy
surrounding the President Yoon' recent months. Dr Alan
kim Korea, chair and deputy director at the Center for
Strategic and International Stu Thanks so much for
expertise this morning. We appreciate it.