April 27, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] US Vice President Mike Pence on April 17 stressed that the “era of strategic patience is over” on North Korea, ramping up pressure against Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programs.

Visiting the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, he conveyed President Donald Trump’s message that China should use its “extraordinary levers” to shift the Kim Jong-un regime’s calculations.

“The era of strategic patience is over,” Pence said, according to a press pool report, adding “all options are on the table.”

“President Trump has made it clear that the patience of the United States and our allies in this region has run out and we want to see change. We want to see North Korea abandon its reckless path of the development of nuclear weapons, and also its continual use and testing of ballistic missiles is unacceptable.”

He expressed hopes for China to help resolve the nuclear issues, saying “we look for them to do more.”

“But all options are on the table as we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of South Korea for denuclearization of this peninsula and for the long term prosperity and freedom of the people of South Korea,” Pence said.

Pence is the latest high-profile Trump administration official to visit Seoul, following Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The vice president’s three-day stay came amid spiraling tension on the peninsula. North Korea test-fired -- though the attempt failed -- a ballistic missile on April 16 in celebration of the 105th birthday of its late national founder and young ruler’s grandfather Kim Il-sung. A US aircraft carrier strike group is en route to South Korea, with Trump calling on a near daily basis for Beijing to put the squeeze on Pyongyang to change course.

After the stop in the border area, Pence held talks and had a lunch meeting with acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn at his residence ahead of a joint news conference. 

Earlier in the day, Pence also met with US Forces Korea commander Gen. Vincent Brooks at its headquarters in Seoul.

Pence kicked off his trip here late April 16 by laying a wreath at the National Cemetery in Seoul, followed by an Easter service and dinner gathering with South Korean and US soldiers.

As soon as he touched down at the Osan air base, speculation erupted over the plan to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile shield here, after a White House foreign policy adviser accompanying Pence on the tour told reporters that the completion of the ongoing installment is up to the next South Korean president.

The vice president’s spokesperson and Seoul’s Foreign Ministry denied any change in the plan shortly after the reports.

Pence is scheduled to meet with business leaders April 18, before continuing to travel to Indonesia. He will also visit Australia later in the week and then Hawaii, home to the US Pacific Command.

By Shin Hyon-hee/The Korea Herald (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)