If the past trend is any guide, the new government will exhibit stability with respect to the U.S. alliance – while trying to maintain alignment with China as well.

The debilitating political vacuum that has reigned in Seoul since South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment on December 14 has finally ended. On June 3, Lee Jae-myung won South Korea’s presidential election by a decisive margin.

He said in his inaugural address after taking office Wednesday that his government will deal with potential North Korean aggressions with “a strong deterrence” based on the solid South Korea-U.S. military alliance.