ID :
43614
Sun, 02/01/2009 - 20:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/43614
The shortlink copeid
(News Focus) S. Korea, U.S. saddled with thorny alliance issues
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- As new U.S. President Barack Obama addresses pressing
issues at home and abroad, highlighted by the closure of the Guantanamo prison
and overt outreach to the Muslim world, South Korean officials are making their
own preparations to deal with key alliance issues with Washington.
The Obama administration has yet to form its diplomatic and security team at the
working level, giving a respite to the South Korean government that faces the
daunting task of resolving several challenges, including the delayed ratification
a free trade pact and a possible troop dispatch to Afghanistan.
Officials and experts here agree that the time-honored alliance will be put to a
crucial test in the coming months amid worries about the chemistry between the
Democratic president in Washington and his conservative counterpart in Seoul, Lee
Myung-bak.
"The U.S. government is expected to complete the line-up of working-level
officials at the State and Defense Departments no later than the end of March. It
means the deciding moment for South Korea on those alliance issues is coming
nearer," Choi Kang, senior analyst at the state-funded Institute of Foreign
Affairs and National Security in Seoul, said.
Seoul's future role in Afghanistan and the fate of its free trade agreement (FTA)
with Washington are among the trickiest agenda items, he pointed out.
South Korean officials are trying to make use of the current break before
negotiations formally begin.
"We are continuing preparations for policy coordination with the new U.S.
government," foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said.
South Korea has started to search in earnest for ways to expand its contributions
to the U.S.-led reconstruction campaign in war-torn Afghanistan. Deputy Foreign
Minister Lee Yong-joon made a fact-finding trip last month to see how Seoul can
contribute more.
The trip coincided with Obama's inauguration and came amid widespread speculation
that his government is likely to request South Korea to send troops to
Afghanistan again.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee last
week that Afghanistan poses "the greatest military challenge" to the U.S., which
plans to send up to 30,000 extra troops there by the middle of this year.
South Korean officials say the U.S. has not formally asked for military help.
"We have not received any official request," the ministry spokesman said. He
would not comment on how Seoul would respond if South Korea does.
Such a request by Washington, if made, will put Seoul in a dilemma. It is
committed to playing a bigger role in settling global problems, but also faces
realistic constraints just a year after withdrawing 200 non-combat troops from
Afghanistan.
"Besides its alliance with the U.S., the government will have to consider its
relations with Arab nations and the possibility that South Koreans can be a prime
target of terrorism, " Choi said.
He said whether South Korea will take part in the Proliferation Security
Initiative (PSI) is another tough subject.
"The U.S. is almost certain to demand that South Korea join the PSI," he said.
The White House said on its Web site shortly after Obama took office that his
administration will institutionalize the PSI, a global campaign aimed at stopping
shipments of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related
materials worldwide.
The PSI, now with 93 member states, is a sensitive geopolitical issue, as North
Korea is a main target of the initiative. The North has criticized the campaign,
calling it a product of Washington's hostile policy against Pyongyang.
South Korea could be relatively flexible on the PSI, Choi said, given the stalled
six-way talks on Pyongyang's nuclear drive and worsening inter-Korean ties.
Still, the government maintains a prudent stance.
"Our position on the PSI remains unchanged. We understand its purpose, but we
will not hurry to make a decision, as we need to consider various conditions,
including North Korea," another foreign ministry official said in return for
customary anonymity.
In an apparent effort to help get the FTA ratified by Congress, Seoul appointed
Han Duck-soo, former finance minister and prime minister, as its new ambassador
to Washington. It was unusual for Seoul to name a veteran economic official to
the post, as opposed to a figure well versed in political affairs. Outlook for
the fate of the FTA turned gloomy with the return of the Democrat administration,
which has traditionally leaned toward protectionism.
Many say the U.S. may demand renegotiations in the interests of its troubled
automobile industry.
Among other pending bilateral issues is the long overdue cleanup of dozens of
U.S. military bases that were returned to the South. There has been controversy
over the extent of U.S. responsibility for the bases, attributable to a gap in
interpreting related stipulations in the Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA).
A SOFA memorandum states the U.S. is to be held responsible for contamination
that is "known, imminent and substantial endangerment (KISE)" to human health,
which South Korea says is an ambiguous rule.
"We have continued consultations with the U.S. side. We are now close to a deal,"
the official said, refusing to give details before the announcement of an
agreement. "In the last stage of negotiations, the U.S. seems to be mindful that
any deal with South Korea will set a precedent for those with other nations where
U.S. military bases are located."
Seoul and Washington also have yet to set a timetable for the relocation of U.S.
military bases.
"The timing of the relocation will be the most important military issue this year
between the two sides," an official at the U.S. Forces Korea said, when asked
about the prospects for their military partnership.
The U.S. has agreed to move its military command 70km south of Seoul to
Pyeongtaek by 2014, but the two sides remain split on when to complete the
relocation of the frontline 2nd Infantry Division, according to sources privy to
the matter.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War
that ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- As new U.S. President Barack Obama addresses pressing
issues at home and abroad, highlighted by the closure of the Guantanamo prison
and overt outreach to the Muslim world, South Korean officials are making their
own preparations to deal with key alliance issues with Washington.
The Obama administration has yet to form its diplomatic and security team at the
working level, giving a respite to the South Korean government that faces the
daunting task of resolving several challenges, including the delayed ratification
a free trade pact and a possible troop dispatch to Afghanistan.
Officials and experts here agree that the time-honored alliance will be put to a
crucial test in the coming months amid worries about the chemistry between the
Democratic president in Washington and his conservative counterpart in Seoul, Lee
Myung-bak.
"The U.S. government is expected to complete the line-up of working-level
officials at the State and Defense Departments no later than the end of March. It
means the deciding moment for South Korea on those alliance issues is coming
nearer," Choi Kang, senior analyst at the state-funded Institute of Foreign
Affairs and National Security in Seoul, said.
Seoul's future role in Afghanistan and the fate of its free trade agreement (FTA)
with Washington are among the trickiest agenda items, he pointed out.
South Korean officials are trying to make use of the current break before
negotiations formally begin.
"We are continuing preparations for policy coordination with the new U.S.
government," foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said.
South Korea has started to search in earnest for ways to expand its contributions
to the U.S.-led reconstruction campaign in war-torn Afghanistan. Deputy Foreign
Minister Lee Yong-joon made a fact-finding trip last month to see how Seoul can
contribute more.
The trip coincided with Obama's inauguration and came amid widespread speculation
that his government is likely to request South Korea to send troops to
Afghanistan again.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee last
week that Afghanistan poses "the greatest military challenge" to the U.S., which
plans to send up to 30,000 extra troops there by the middle of this year.
South Korean officials say the U.S. has not formally asked for military help.
"We have not received any official request," the ministry spokesman said. He
would not comment on how Seoul would respond if South Korea does.
Such a request by Washington, if made, will put Seoul in a dilemma. It is
committed to playing a bigger role in settling global problems, but also faces
realistic constraints just a year after withdrawing 200 non-combat troops from
Afghanistan.
"Besides its alliance with the U.S., the government will have to consider its
relations with Arab nations and the possibility that South Koreans can be a prime
target of terrorism, " Choi said.
He said whether South Korea will take part in the Proliferation Security
Initiative (PSI) is another tough subject.
"The U.S. is almost certain to demand that South Korea join the PSI," he said.
The White House said on its Web site shortly after Obama took office that his
administration will institutionalize the PSI, a global campaign aimed at stopping
shipments of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related
materials worldwide.
The PSI, now with 93 member states, is a sensitive geopolitical issue, as North
Korea is a main target of the initiative. The North has criticized the campaign,
calling it a product of Washington's hostile policy against Pyongyang.
South Korea could be relatively flexible on the PSI, Choi said, given the stalled
six-way talks on Pyongyang's nuclear drive and worsening inter-Korean ties.
Still, the government maintains a prudent stance.
"Our position on the PSI remains unchanged. We understand its purpose, but we
will not hurry to make a decision, as we need to consider various conditions,
including North Korea," another foreign ministry official said in return for
customary anonymity.
In an apparent effort to help get the FTA ratified by Congress, Seoul appointed
Han Duck-soo, former finance minister and prime minister, as its new ambassador
to Washington. It was unusual for Seoul to name a veteran economic official to
the post, as opposed to a figure well versed in political affairs. Outlook for
the fate of the FTA turned gloomy with the return of the Democrat administration,
which has traditionally leaned toward protectionism.
Many say the U.S. may demand renegotiations in the interests of its troubled
automobile industry.
Among other pending bilateral issues is the long overdue cleanup of dozens of
U.S. military bases that were returned to the South. There has been controversy
over the extent of U.S. responsibility for the bases, attributable to a gap in
interpreting related stipulations in the Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA).
A SOFA memorandum states the U.S. is to be held responsible for contamination
that is "known, imminent and substantial endangerment (KISE)" to human health,
which South Korea says is an ambiguous rule.
"We have continued consultations with the U.S. side. We are now close to a deal,"
the official said, refusing to give details before the announcement of an
agreement. "In the last stage of negotiations, the U.S. seems to be mindful that
any deal with South Korea will set a precedent for those with other nations where
U.S. military bases are located."
Seoul and Washington also have yet to set a timetable for the relocation of U.S.
military bases.
"The timing of the relocation will be the most important military issue this year
between the two sides," an official at the U.S. Forces Korea said, when asked
about the prospects for their military partnership.
The U.S. has agreed to move its military command 70km south of Seoul to
Pyeongtaek by 2014, but the two sides remain split on when to complete the
relocation of the frontline 2nd Infantry Division, according to sources privy to
the matter.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War
that ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
