As the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit concluded in Lima, Peru, South Korea’s diplomatic engagement revealed both opportunities and limitations in its regional strategy. President Yoon Suk Yeol's participation at both APEC and the subsequent G20 summit tested Seoul's diplomatic capabilities, particularly in balancing its alliance commitments with broader regional engagement between the United States and China.

Most notably, the event provided a critical platform for reinforcing U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation, building upon the foundations laid at the Camp David Summit. The establishment of a permanent secretariat between the three nations signals a strategic attempt to institutionalize cooperation at both leadership and working levels — a move that appears designed to weather potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy following the 2024 presidential election.

However, this arrangement faces realistic challenges. The precedent of the Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, which remained inactive for over four years at the leadership level despite its permanent status, serves as a sobering reminder that institutional frameworks alone cannot guarantee sustained cooperation, particularly with the uncertainty surrounding regional dynamics under the new American leadership.

Perhaps more unique was the first bilateral meeting between South Korean and Chinese leaders in two years. The discussions centered on the growing Moscow-Pyongyang relationship, with President Yoon expressing explicit concerns about North........

© The Korea Times