The war between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has moved beyond a regional conflict to send shockwaves through global economic security and the broader alliance structure. The Middle East crisis is rapidly spreading across the full spectrum of economic security, including energy, supply chains and maritime safety. In this process, the Donald Trump administration's "transactional alliance" approach has become increasingly clear, creating pressure on allies to make tangible contributions and expand their roles. U.S.-North Korea relations are also situated in a fundamentally different environment, constrained by deepening North Korea-Russia ties, intensifying U.S.-China competition and the severing of inter-Korean relations.
In an interview with the Seoul Economic Daily on the 6th, Choi Jong-kun, professor of political science and diplomacy at Yonsei University and former first vice minister of foreign affairs, said, "To increase leverage in the Korea-U.S. relationship, we need a multi-layered negotiation strategy that utilizes not only the federal government but also state governments." His analysis is that using the interests of state governments where Korean corporate investment and employment are concentrated as leverage can ease White House pressure and strengthen negotiating power. "In this era of compound crises, Korea must move beyond passive responses and maximize national interests through strategic diplomacy that simultaneously leverages alliances and regional networks," he stressed.
Q: How do you expect the U.S.-Iran war to end?
