Welcome back.
On today's segment of VIEW POINT... we look... ahead... to the upcoming summit... between
President Yoon Suk-yeol... and his U.S. countepart...
Joe Biden... who is expected... to land...
here in South Korea... in about four hours.
For more...
I have Professor CHUNG Ku-youn (정구연)... at Kangwon National University...
LIVE on the LINE.
Professor Chung...
it's good... to have you... with us.
I also have Doctor Erik MOB-RAND... at RAND Corporation...
joining... our talk... virtually.
Doctor Mobrand... it's a pleasure... to have you... with us.
1) Professor Chung... let's start off...
with... a few words... on the implications... of this upcoming summit for President Yoon
Suk-yeol.
2) And...
Doctor Mobrand...
what would you say... is the purpose... of this trip... by U.S. President Joe Biden...
to this part of the world?
3) Professor Chung... as widely expected...
North Korea will top talks...
between the two leaders...
given its persistent provocations.
Do you expect...
a tangible response strategy...
during this summit?
(Or are chances high that the summit will simply see a verbal condemnation?)
4) Doctor Mobrand... the widespread belief is... that...
North Korea will engage... in yet another act of provocation...
during President Biden's Asia trip.
Do you share this belief... and if so... what do you propose... to better address it...
should it occur?
5) Professor Chung...
President Yoon has pledged... a hawkish stance... with regard... to regional security matters...
including those related to North Korea.
But...
how feasible... is this stance... given its trade ties... with neighboring China?
6) Doctor Mobrand...
pundits say...
South Korea remains...
a middle power... on the diplomatic front...
IN SHARP CONTRAST... to its HIGH STANDING on the economic front.
And... perhaps...
it is with this understanding...
in mind... that the Yoon administration has spoken... of intentions... to boost the country's
role within the international arena.
What are your prospects?
7) Professor Chung...
President Yoon has also voiced support... for President Biden's Indo-Pacific Economic
Framework.
That being said...
what are your thoughts... on the significance... of
this regional framework... for South Korea?
8) Doctor Mobrand... along with this trade initiative...
there is the Indo-Pacific security dialogue...
the QUAD.
Now...
some believe... that membership into this alliance... will ultimately allow South Korea...
to chart a
more INDEPENDENT GEOPOLITICAL PATH... one
that
is less vulnerable...
to Chinese influence.
How do you respond?
9) Professor Chung... simply speaking...
what diplomatic gains...
do you suppose... will be made... by the two leaders...
during their first official exchange...
this coming Saturday?
10) Doctor Mobrand...
I extend the same question to you.
What looks... to
be gained...
through
this particular summit... and
what may remain... to be desired?
All right