Obama announces new era of engagement to resolve security threats

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday said he will
engage foes aggressively to resolve security threats facing the U.S., but fell
short of elaborating on strategies for such engagement.
"We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could
do us harm," Obama said in his first address to a joint session of Congress,
without mentioning the specific security threats facing the U.S. "To meet the
challenges of the 21st century -- from terrorism to nuclear proliferation; from
pandemic disease to cyber threats to crushing poverty -- we will strengthen old
alliances, forge new ones, and use all elements of our national power."
In the nationally televised prime-time speech, Obama announced the arrival of "a
new era of engagement." "For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this
century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America."
National security issues were overshadowed in the speech, most of which was
devoted to job creation, developing sustainable energy and infrastructure with a
massive stimulus package and effective budget spending to rebuild America amid
the worst economic crisis in decades.
The president's remarks, however, are seen as a clear departure from his
predecessor, George W. Bush, who early on designated North Korea as part of axis
of evil with which the U.S. would not engage.
In contrast, Obama said while campaigning last year that he was ready to meet
with any adversaries, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, though he
insisted certain conditions needed to be met before such a meeting would take
place.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Seoul last week that she did not
have any immediate plans to meet with Kim Jong-il, though she urged North Korea
to refrain from threatening South Korea with words and actions she described as
"unhelpful" in forming relations with the Obama administration.
North Korea announced Tuesday (Korean time) that it was preparing for a
communications satellite launch, though South Korea and the U.S. insist that
Pyongyang is in fact gearing up to test-fire a ballistic missile technically
capable of hitting the continental United States.
Pyongyang has also severed all ties with South Korea and warned of an imminent
military conflict with the hardline Lee Myung-bak government, whose policy of
aid-for-denuclearization has frozen relations between the two Koreas for the past
year.
Clinton announced during her visit to Seoul the appointment of Stephen Bosworth,
former ambassador to South Korea, as Washington's special representative for
North Korea dealing with six-party talks on ending the communist state's nuclear
ambitions.
It remains unclear, however, when Bosworth will begin his work to resume the
multilateral talks, which have been stalled since December over a dispute on how
to verify North Korea's nuclear declaration.
Obama and Clinton have said they will stick to the six-party framework while also
pursing more direct bilateral engagement.
Earlier in the day, Obama met with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso at the White
House. Aso, the first foreign head of state to be received since Obama's
inauguration late last month, pledged to "work closely through the six-party
process to verifiably eliminate North Korea's nuclear program and to deal with
the problem of North Korea's missiles."
South Korean and U.S. officials have said that the North's missile launch could
take place within weeks to coincide with the possible establishment of Kim
Jong-il's third son as heir apparent. Rumors of succession have been growing in
the wake of the leader's reportedly failing health.
The 67-year-old Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in the summer of last
year, and analysts say he needs to allow time for the 26-year-old son, Jong-un,
to consolidate his power for a smooth transition.
Clinton discussed the possibility of instability in the North should a power
transition take place, a break from the past practice of U.S. officials
abstaining from touching on such a sensitive issue.
The top U.S. diplomat said last week that the Obama administration will reward
the North with diplomatic recognition, the establishment of a peace regime to
replace a fragile armistice, and provide hefty economic assistance if the North
abandons its nuclear programs under the multilateral talks that includes the two
Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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