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Editorials from conservative South Korean papers concerning the memoir of John Bolton, former White House national security advisor.

As the memoirs of former US White House National Security Advisor John Bolton cause shockwaves across Korea and the US, conservative media outlets within Korea have been treating Bolton’s unilateral claims as the truth and using the book as a tool for attacking the Moon Jae-in administration. The truth of the allegations in Bolton’s book is controversial, and he has also received criticism for rationalizing his own actions in obstructing negotiations regarding denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Nevertheless, Korea’s conservative press has taken Bolton’s side and is seeking to denigrate the efforts of the Korean government to achieve peace and denuclearization on the peninsula, which is deplorable behavior.

On June 23, the Chosun Ilbo published an editorial titled “The Korea and US Administrations Needed a PR Stunt More Than North Korea Denuclearization,” which claimed, “One of the consistent facts revealed in Bolton’s memoirs is that the US and Korean governments were more concerned with TV appearances than the actual details of denuclearization in the North.” Editorials in both the Chosun Ilbo and Munhwa Ilbo treated Bolton’s claim that the US and Korean governments deceived their citizens as established fact, and called on the Blue House to “reveal the truth about Bolton’s allegations.” In an editorial titled “The Charade of North Korean Denuclearization – The True Face of the South Korea Arbitration Theory Revealed,” the Dong-a Ilbo wrote that the government should abandon the “Korea Peninsula Driver Theory and the claim that South Korea was arbitrating the process, which were just for show on TV.”

Bolton’s Libyan model, in which “North Korea must first renounce its nuclear weapons in order to open up the possibility of having sanctions lifted,” is not feasible in reality. Under this approach, the only path left to denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula is war. Stephen Biegun, the US Deputy Secretary of State who has actively worked alongside the South Korean government, had formulated a proposal in which sanctions on North Korea would be partially lifted [in return for] closing down the Yongbyon nuclear facilities. In his book, Bolton brags about throwing a wrench in the works of this plan. In this sense, he is a disrupter of peace on the Korean Peninsula who fundamentally denies the possibility of denuclearization through dialogue.

Paradoxically, the book demonstrates in several places that the South Korean government worked very hard to create a breakthrough for peace and denuclearization in spite of the difficult circumstances. Even amidst the chaos created by President Trump, who sought to use the US-North Korea talks for political gain, and the efforts of Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who did everything they could to thwart the negotiations, the Korean government continued to strive to further the Korean Peninsula peace process. The attitude demonstrated by these newspapers when they treat Bolton’s allegations as fact while denying the role of the Korean government gives the impression that the issue of peace on the Korean Peninsula is of little importance. I hope these media outlets will think twice about whether teaming up with American hardliners may actually hinder the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]