WASHINGTON, D.C. – This August, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) led a Senate Delegation to Seoul and Tokyo alongside Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to strengthen economic ties and bolster national security, emphasizing the critical value of the trilateral relationship between the United States, Republic of Korea, and Japan. The visit took place one week prior to President Trump’s meeting with President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea at the White House. 

ICYMI: Senator Kim reiterates his opposition to the Trump administration unilaterally reducing U.S. troop presence in South Korea 

While addressing media on August 28^th from Capitol Hill, Senator Kim stated that,“Our deterrence can help defend the Korean Peninsula while securing strategic flexibility to deal with any emergency or issue occurring in the Indo-Pacific region.” 

He also shared: “Personally, I don’t think we should be changing the troop levels unless there’s some other agreement that is made between United States and South Korea…What I constantly say is that I don’t want to see South Korea surprised by any announcements. When it comes to troop levels or security, they are a strategic ally. They deserve to be consulted and talked to.” 

Related coverage: Maeil Business Newspaper (August 29), KBS World (August 29),Yonhap News Agency (August 29), The Dong-A Ilbo (August 30), Airang News (August 29) 

ICYMI: Senator Kim emphasizes the value of strategic alliances and the trilateral relationship between the U.S., Republic of Korea, and Japan. 

Also while addressing media on the 28^th, Senator Kim shared: “More broadly, I just want to say the trip to Tokyo was again a really strong part of the trip and was reinforced by the fact that President Lee stopped in Tokyo on his way to the United States… I think it is really important to showcase his global leadership but to show that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan relationship can really be the underpinning of the security and prosperity of that entire region. And that they all benefit from that kind of engagement and approach.” 

He continued: “We’re trying to set up a trilateral, inter-parliamentary dialogue that can help us support from a congressional standpoint the work that is happening between some of the executive offices of these different nations.” 

On August 25^th Senator Kim joined CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper and shared: “One thing that absolutely needs to happen is we have to reassure our allies, South Korea, Japan, and others in the Indo-Pacific. Right now…they call us unpredictable, they call us, right now, unreliable.’…‘We need to be very careful…Our allies and partners are very worried and we need to make sure we are stepping up for them.’ 

Watch the full interview here. 

Related coverage: Yonhap News Agency (August 29), Korea JoongAng Daily (August 21) 

Senator Kim was sworn in December 9^th, 2024 as the first Korean American ever elected to the U.S. Senate and the first Asian American Senator from New Jersey. He currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Senator Kim previously represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives where he served on the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and Chinese Communist Party, House Armed Services Committee, and House Foreign Affairs Committee. Prior to being elected to Congress, he was a career public servant working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. Learn more about Senator Kim’s service on behalf of New Jersey here. 

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