21st Presidential Election on Security & Foreign Policy

South Korea's 21st presidential election, also a snap election, comes at a time of increasingly complex geopolitics: The world is dealing with the latest trade war, North Korea continues advancing its nuclear capabilities and wars drag on in Ukraine and the Middle East, meaning the new Korean government has a lot on its plate.

Let's get some insight.

Joining me live from Washington, D.C. is Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Mr. Klingner, good to have you on.

1. How is Washington watching the South Korean election unfold?

2. How do you expect the election outcome to affect the Korea-U.S. relationship going forward?

3. This election comes at a critical time with Korea, like other countries, is navigating trade challenges posed by the U.S. What's the prospect of tariff talks with the new Korean government, taking into account continuing uncertainty over tariffs?

4. What are the tasks facing the new South Korean government, considering the Trump administration's diplomatic approach when it comes to the bilateral alliance that has lasted for over 70 years, involving issues like the U.S. troops in Korea or the allies' defense-cost sharing?

5. How would you compare the policy positions of the DP's Lee Jae-myung and the PPP's Kim Moon-soo when it comes to the denuclearization of North Korea and South Korea's own nuclear armament?

6. Two major wars are happening in the world, and the North Korea issue may not a pressing concern for the Trump administration, but President Trump previously did signal possible dialogue with North Korea's Kim Jong-un after re-entering the White House. What is the chance of another Trump-Kim meeting? And what are the chances of South Korea being bypassed over the course of the dialogue?

Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Thank you for your insights.