Key takeaways:- This distinction matters because burden-shifting implies withdrawal, while responsibility-sharing implies empowerment and inclusion.- In effect, he challenged Seoul to embrace a self-conception aligned with its actual capabilities, that of a global actor critical to shaping Indo-Pacific stability, not merely a frontline state facing North Korea.- By demanding more of Seoul and, in turn, granting it gr...

Key takeaways:- The new U.S.–ROK fact sheet reveals a highly transactional alliance, with economic deals and investment commitments taking precedence over traditional security guarantees.- While Washington reaffirmed extended deterrence and welcomed Seoul’s increased defense spending, major modernization issues — including strategic flexibility — remain ambiguous, even as the two sides explore politicall...