Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim stated on November 28 in Seoul that all options remain open for a North Korea peace plan, describing President Donald Trump as a peacemaker. He emphasized the interdependence of South Korea and the U.S. futures while reaffirming commitments to extended deterrence. The joint fact sheet was hailed as a historic document strengthening security and economic ties.
At a forum hosted by the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation on November 28 in Seoul's Yongsan District, Acting U.S. Ambassador Kevin Kim described President Donald Trump as "the peacemaker himself" who "can take approaches that have not been tried before" toward North Korea. He added, "I never want to say 'never' about any possible options moving forward," prioritizing Korean Peninsula security.
Kim, who handled working-level nuclear talks during Trump's first term, supported three summits: Singapore in June 2018, Hanoi in February 2019, and Panmunjeom in June 2019. South Korean officials hope Trump's openness revives stalled inter-Korean dialogue.
On extended deterrence, amid calls for South Korea's own nuclear arsenal, Kim affirmed the U.S. commitment, referencing about 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea under the mutual defense treaty. The joint fact sheet from the recent summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Trump commits South Korea to raising defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP, purchasing $25 billion in U.S. weapons, investing $350 billion in the U.S., reducing tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, and gaining support for nuclear-powered submarines. Kim called it a "so special" and "so historic" document, pledging full implementation.
"America's future depends on Korea, and Korea's future depends on America," Kim said, praising South Korea as a model ally sharing defense burdens. Alliance modernization extends beyond North Korea's threats to China's assertiveness and potential Taiwan conflicts. On the speculated 2027 Chinese invasion of Taiwan, he noted China's historic military buildup but stressed, "Whatever happens, I know that the president is interested in preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
These remarks underscore shared threat assessments to strengthen deterrence across the Korean Peninsula and Indo-Pacific for peace and prosperity.
