TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — South Korea's Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik played down South Korea’s resolve to intervene in a Taiwan Strait conflict while on a TV program on Sunday (April 21).
Speaking on “Sunday Diagnosis,” Shin said, “If a crisis occurs in Taiwan, the South Korean military’s paramount concern is observing the possibility of North Korean provocations and working with USFK (United States Forces Korea) to establish a firm joint defense posture,” according to Hankyoreh. South Korea’s focus is on maintaining national security as part of “upholding global security,” he said.
In a January interview with the Korean Herald, Shin was asked whether USFK would support Taiwan in a cross-strait conflict. The defense minister said he doubted the U.S. would transfer troops from South Korea to Taiwan. “I don’t believe it is something we should be worried about,” he said.
“The question is not a helpful one for our security. USFK has said nothing like that, and it is an excessive hypothetical. We must firmly say ‘no,’” Shin added.
Shin’s comments echo South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s remarks following the trilateral summit between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan in August 2023. Yoon pledged to "support the maritime security of countries in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure freedom of navigation and trade" but did not name a specific country, per Nikkei Asia. Yoon’s office also clarified that the post-summit joint statement did not commit South Korea to any military obligations.
Despite South Korea’s apparent reluctance to jump to Taiwan’s aid in case of a regional emergency, it continues to hold joint military drills with the U.S. and other partners.
On April 11, the U.S., South Korea, and Japan navies conducted a two-day exercise that focused on “advanced maritime communication operations, maritime interdiction operations training, and air warfare exercises,” the U.S. Navy said in a statement.