Korean American lawmaker highlights S. Korea-Japan cooperation for shared interests, prosperity

A Korean American lawmaker on Thursday underscored the importance of cooperation between South Korea and Japan for "shared interests and prosperity," as he pointed to progress in the U.S. allies' relations and their trilateral cooperation with the United States. Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), a congressman seeking a Senate seat, made the remarks, giving a positive assessment of how relations between Seoul and Tokyo have fared, while recognizing "deep-set" concerns over their ties long strained over historical issues. "There are some deep-seated issues that are not going to necessarily be able to all be addressed in ways that are perfect for everybody," he said. "But I do think that starting on this capacity of finding areas of commonality and building out is productive, and (it) is something that hopefully will help recognize that their shared interests going forward and their shared prosperity going forward comes from working together," he added. This photo, taken on May 26, 2024, shows Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) spea king during an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Washington. (Yonhap) This photo, taken on May 26, 2024, shows Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) speaking during an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Washington. (Yonhap) His remarks came amid expectations that should he be elected in November to become the first Korean American senator, he would play a role for the alliance between South Korea and the U.S., and their trilateral partnership with Japan. Kim said that the speed at which relations between Seoul and Tokyo have improved is "quite remarkable" given that years ago, their ties were at "some of the lowest points." A thaw in relations between the South and Japan emerged after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced a decision in March last year to resolve the longstanding thorny issue of Japan's wartime forced labor without contributions from liable Japanese companies. Washington has been capitalizing on progress in the relations between Seoul and Tokyo to promote trilateral security cooperation in t he midst of evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats and China's growing assertiveness. Its efforts to bring the Asian allies together culminated at the Camp David summit in August last year, the first standalone trilateral summit between the three nations. Kim stressed that the story of trilateral cooperation needs to be told not just for Korean and Japanese audiences, but also for the U.S. population. "I think it's important that we tell that story about what these relationships mean," he said. Kim boasts a wide-ranging foreign policy career, having served at the NSC, the Pentagon, the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and as a civilian adviser to Gen. David Petraeus and Gen. John Allen in Afghanistan. Source: Yonhap News Agency