South Korea. North Korea. Friends and Enemies. Or Is it Vice Versa?

Donald Trump’s policy on Korea continued in the normal way this past week: giving concessions to the North and making absurd demands on the South.  I assume the concessions to the North are because President Trump “loves” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and thinks that reaching an agreement with the North will cement his reputation as the greatest President ever – though I also assume President Trump already thinks he is.  The demands on the South are because President Trump always thinks somebody is ripping us [him] off and doesn’t understand that foreign policy, and peace, is not a real estate deal or casino contract.  More:

First, North Korea.  Earlier this week, the U.S. and South Korea postponed a major training exercise that was set to begin on Monday.  Defense Secretary Mark Esper said it was “an act of good will … and advancement of peace” but it was not a concession to the North.  As if anybody believes that.  The U.S.  and South Korea cancelled defense exercises last year and nothing happened.  Actually, that is not entirely true.  When we had denuclearization talks with North Korea in October, the first meeting in seven months, North Korea walked out, accusing the U.S. of not making enough concessions.  So, we postponed the military exercises this month.  But it wasn’t a concession.  (If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.)  And, according to The Wall Street Journal, “A few hours after [Defense Secretary] Esper’s remarks, North Korea’s foreign ministry said the regime’s will to maintain diplomacy with the U.S. was shrinking.”  The art of the deal, huh?

Meanwhile, in South Korea, the U.S. broke off talks with respect to the contribution South Korea pays each year to help support the U.S. troops stationed there.  The current amount is $890 million, but President Trump wants almost $5 billion.  President Trump’s amount would not only cover the costs of our troops being in South Korea but also the entire wage bill for the 28,500 troops.  Which misses the point.  We would be paying these soldiers whether they were in South Korea or the U.S.  The wage bill isn’t higher because they are in Korea as opposed to Kentucky.  South Korea should pay a fair amount, but men and women join the armed forces to protect America, not to be part of some Donald Trump rent-a-soldier scheme.  The U.S. Army is not a profit center.  Our service members are more important than that.

Both of these positions are part of the same misunderstanding by President Trump.  The United States is not a business.  Agreements with allies, or potential enemies, are not one-off business contracts.  We are in it together with our friends and allies.  Playing lovey-dovey with Kim Jong Un, while being a jerk with countries like South Korea is embarrassing – and dangerous.  According to former Defense Secretary James Mattis, the Marines have a saying: “When you’re going to a gunfight, bring all your friends with guns.”  In other words, if you get in a fight, the more allies you have, the better off you are.  If President Trump is re-elected next year, who knows how many friends we will have left by January of 2025.