She almost pulled it off. The vice-president almost got through her Asia trip without any embarrassing incidents. She is flying back to Washington, D.C. as I write this. Kamala ended her trip to Asia with a gaffe. In the speech she delivered at the DMZ, the vice-president made an unfortunate gaffe when she said the United States has a “strong alliance” with “the Republic of North Korea.”
At all times to do that, she did it at the Korean Peninsula’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Thursday. This was the final stop on her diplomatic Asian tour. The stop at the DMZ was meant to show America’s “rock-solid commitment” to regional security. She did go on to correctly identify South Korea as the country with an alliance with the United States.
“It is an alliance that is strong and enduring,” she added, intending to refer to the Republic of Korea, which is South Korea’s official name.
The vice president then continued her remarks by professing the U.S.’s support for South Korea’s defense against the increasingly-aggressive North Korean government.
“I cannot state enough that the commitment of the United States to the defense of the Republic of Korea is iron-clad, and that we will do everything in our power to ensure that it has meaning in every way that the words suggest,” Harris said.
Fortunately, this was the only gaffe reported during Kamala’s time in Asia this week. Her meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, also known for verbal gaffes, reportedly was without incident.
Harris began her visit by stopping at the Camp Bonifas Dining Facility and thanking American service members. She used binoculars to observe the DMZ, which is roughly 160 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. The vice president then headed to Observation Post Ouellette to give her speech about her commitment to South Korea’s security.
Shortly before the DMZ visit, Harris met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and praised the U.S.-South Korean alliance as a “linchpin of security and prosperity.” She and Yoon also discussed South Korea’s economic and technology partnerships with the United States earlier on Thursday, in addition to a gender equity roundtable.
At the DMZ, Harris was struck by how close the border with North Korea was.
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At an observation post atop a steep hill overlooking North Korea, Harris peered through bulky binoculars as U.S. and South Korean soldiers pointed out features, including defenses, in the area.
“It’s so close,” she said.
“It’s 50 meters away, ma’am,” responded a military officer.
She also visited the Panmunjom Truce Village. That is where Trump met Kim Jong-un in 2019. And she talked to U.S. soldiers at Camp Bonifas in the Joint Security Area.
North Korea was doing what North Korea does as Kamala was in South Korea. It fired off a third ballistic missile into the sea. Kim Jong-un fired two short-range ballistic missile during Kamala’s visit to Japan to get some attention. Kim Jong-un also did the same kind of trolling action when Biden was visiting Seoul in June. He fired off three missiles then. Little Rocket Man likes his rockets.
Kamala spoke at a U.S. Naval base, the United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, on Wednesday. During that speech she condemned North Korea’s “illicit weapons program.” No gaffes that time. The White House press secretary blew off the North Korean missile test. She said it was “not unusual” Wednesday and didn’t stop Kamala from going to the DMZ. “As you know, North Korea has a history of doing these types of tests,” she said.
There were protests in Seoul during her visit on Thursday. Protesters wore masks of the faces of Kamala and President Yoon. They protested the U.S.-South Korean alliance.
Kamala was in Asia to lead an American delegation to Prime Minister Abe’s funeral in Tokyo. She continued on to South Korea from there. Her trip can be looked at as a step in the right direction with South Korea’s new president. It is more likely, though, seen by the Biden administration as another entry into Kamala’s overseas trip resume, appearing with world leaders and beefing up her ability to forge amicable relationships with them. If Biden doesn’t run in 2024, Kamala has to present herself as ready to step up and do the job.
While Kamala was in Seoul, she met with “groundbreaking women leaders” of South Korea, according to the White House. She discussed gender equality issues with them. Because, of course she did. It must have been a little awkward, though, as President Yoon has pledged to abolish Seoul’s Ministry of Gender Equality. Yoon has faced criticism for not having women in his cabinet.
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