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1 1 (December 9, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govegwk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Servic inimrring the kegislative debate since 1914 Updated December 9, 2021 South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations Overview South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). The alliance also helps the United States to promote its interests in East Asia and around the globe, including by deploying ROK troops to U.S.-led military conflicts in the Middle East. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK. The economic relationship is bolstered by the U.S.- South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), implemented in 2012. In 2020, South Korea was the United States' seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States was South Korea's second-largest trading partner, behind China. In May 2021, President Joseph Biden and ROK President Moon Jae-in met in Washington, DC. During their summit, Biden and Moon discussed North Korea policy, and identified ways to expand cooperation on global and regional issues, such as climate change, energy, cyber- security, global health, and space. They also announced a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine partnership; an ROK pledge of $220 million in aid to Northern Triangle Central American countries to help resolve U.S. inward migration challenges; and investments in the United States by ROK technology companies in key sectors. Moon's presidency is to end in May 2022. North Korea Policy Coordination North Korea is the dominant strategic concern in the U.S.- South Korea relationship. Moon has promoted engagement with the DPRK, which he says is critical to prevent military conflict and establish a durable peace on the Korean Peninsula. U.N. and U.S. sanctions severely limit Seoul's ability to conduct inter-Korean cooperation activities. Since early 2019, the DPRK largely has ignored U.S. and ROK outreach, including humanitarian aid offers. The Biden Administration has stated it is pursuing a calibrated, practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with North Korea while retaining U.S. and international sanctions to achieve the eventual complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The approach appears to envision incrementally offering partial sanctions relief in exchange for partial steps toward denuclearization. Moon has welcomed the Biden policy. At their 2021 summit, Biden and Moon stated their belief that 2018 U.S.-North Korea and South Korea-North Korea agreements negotiated by Moon and former President Donald Trump could form the basis for denuclearization and achieving permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Biden supported inter-Korean dialogue and Moon reiterated support for full implementation of U.N. sanctions. DPRK leader Kim Jong-un has characterized U.S. offers of diplomacy as a petty trick for hiding hostile acts, such as the continuation of U.S.-ROK military exercises, the maintenance of sanctions against North Korea, and South Korean acquisition and development of sophisticated military equipment. In reaction to the stasis in U.S.-DPRK and ROK-DPRK diplomacy as his time in office runs out, Moon has been pushing for a U.S.-ROK pre-emptive declaration formally ending the Korean War as an incentive for Pyongyang to come to the negotiating table. North Korea has continued to conduct cyberattacks around the globe and test short- and medium-range missile capabilities to develop their ability to evade missile defenses. The most recent tests occurred in September and October 2021, when North Korea launched three new types of missiles and claimed it had developed a faster fueling system. It also test-launched what may be a submarine- launched ballistic missile. Some analysts worry that DPRK leader Kim Jong-un will abandon his nearly four-year-old unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range ballistic missile tests. US-outh Korea Securty Issues The Biden Administration has worked to repair the alliance, which was strained during the Trump years. In February 2021, the Biden Administration concluded a cost-sharing negotiation with South Korea that boosted South Korea's contribution by 13.9%. The ROK traditionally has paid for about 50% (over $800 million annually) of the total non- personnel costs of the U.S. military presence, according to congressional testimony by U.S. military officials. Washington and Seoul have been adapting their alliance to recognize South Korea's increased capabilities and desire

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