Trump vents frustration: "South Korea hasn’t been helpful to us"

U.S. President Donald Trump on April 1 (local time) voiced frustration with South Korea for not immediately responding to a request to send troops, as he argued that European and Asian countries should take charge of securing the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blockaded.

According to footage from an Easter event that the White House uploaded to its YouTube account and later deleted, President Trump stressed that the Strait of Hormuz is not America’s problem, saying, “Let the European countries do it. Let South Korea do it.”

He then continued his remarks about South Korea. “(South Korea) hasn’t been helpful to us,” Trump said, adding, “even though we have 45,000 soldiers in a tough place, right next to a nuclear force (North Korea).” In reality, the number of U.S. Forces Korea is around 28,500, but Trump has consistently cited 45,000.

Trump went on to say, “Let Japan do it. They get 90% of their oil from the (Hormuz) strait. Let China do it. Let them do it.”

Trump had asked NATO member states as well as South Korea, China and Japan to dispatch naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, but after failing to win support, he lashed out on April 17, saying, “We don’t need NATO’s help. Same with Japan and South Korea.” However, this is the first time he has singled out South Korea by saying it “hasn’t been helpful.”

He has previously focused mainly on grievances about NATO. In an interview reported by the UK’s The Telegraph on March 31, he also said he was “strongly considering” withdrawing from NATO. On March 14, Trump mentioned South Korea and Japan, France, the UK and China as he requested they dispatch naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington = Lee Sang-eun, Correspondent selee@hankyung.com