Kamala Harris mistakenly declared that the United States has an “alliance with the Republic of North Korea” while speaking in South Korea on Thursday.
Harris arrived in Asia earlier this week on a four-day trip scheduled around the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. During her trip, she has met with Japanese, South Korean and Australian government leaders to discuss China’s aggression in the South China Sea and North Korea’s ballistic missile program. According to CNN, the trip “was meant in part to reaffirm Asian allies of the US’ intention to follow through on its security commitments in Indo-Pacific region.”
Other than the occasional word salad, Harris’s trip to Asia was relatively gaffe-free. Until the last stop on her trip today.
After touring the Demilitarized Zone that divides North and South Korea, she said, “the United States shares a very important relationship, which is an alliance with the Republic of North Korea.” Harris added that the alliance “is strong and enduring.”
KAMALA HARRIS: "The United States shares a very important relationship, which is an alliance with the Republic of North Korea." pic.twitter.com/H2dI5UYOlo
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 29, 2022
An official transcript from the vice president’s office struck “North” from the record, and corrected her remarks to “the Republic of Korea,” CNN reported.
“Everything’s fine!” quipped Rep. Troy Nehls on Twitter. “North Korea was just ‘top of mind’ for the Vice President,” he added, referring to a bizarre phrase used repeatedly by the White House press secretary on Wednesday to explain why Joe Biden had searched for a deceased member of Congress at a White House event.
Earlier, while touring the Demilitarized Zone, Harris seemed surprised to learn that North Korea is close to South Korea.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits the Demilitarized Zone on the border of North and South Korea:
"It's something to actually see this with your own eyes. And it's so close." pic.twitter.com/e5z4uPFnmf
— The Recount (@therecount) September 29, 2022
Harris’s visit to South Korea comes a day after North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea. That act of provocation followed two short-range ballistic missile launches during Harris’ stay in Japan, Fox News reported.
North Korea also made a similar gesture in June by firing a trio of missiles before President Biden’s visit to Seoul that month.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said North Korea’s missile test was “not unusual” on Wednesday. “As you know, North Korea has a history of doing these types of tests,” she said.
Canadian author and commentator Mark Steyn had a “pro-tip” for Harris, following her gaffe, Thursday.
“If you’re ever asked to give a speech in the Demilitarized Zone, you really only have one thing you need to remember—and that’s the difference between South Korea and North Korea,” Steyn noted. “South Korea are your allies—they’re the good guys. North Korea are the bad guys. That’s the one-man nuclear pyscho-state. If you can keep that distinction straight, you can do what you like in the rest of the speech.”
‘She can’t tell the difference between North and South when she’s actually standing on the border!’
Mark Steyn criticises Kamala Harris for accidentally saying the USA has an alliance with North Korea, as well as gives his take on world politics. pic.twitter.com/u5AVvjZaId
— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 29, 2022