Campbell to press S. Korea to address Myanmar human rights

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is
expected to press South Korea to speak up about human rights abuses in Myanmar
when he meets top South Korean officials this week, an informed source here said
Tuesday.
For South Korea, the Myanmar issue is subtle and complicated as it seeks to keep
alliance with Washington robust and also improve economic and other relations
with the Southeast Asian nation, formerly known as Burma.
"Of course, the North Korean nuclear issue, the (Korea-U.S.) free trade
agreement, and pending alliance issues will be discussed here as main issues
during Assistant Secretary Campbell's visit. But, in addition, he also plans to
raise the Myanmar issue," the source told Yonhap News Agency, requesting
anonymity.
Campbell was to arrive in Seoul later Tuesday for a three-day stay during which
he will meet Kim Sung-hwan, top presidential secretary for diplomacy and security
affairs, chief nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac, and Deputy Foreign Minister Lee
Yong-joon.
The Obama administration wants South Korea to actively join its campaign to
address human rights abuses by Myanmar's military junta, the source said, in the
belief that Seoul's participation will help encourage other nations to join the
initiative.
But South Korea has maintained a tepid stance in consideration of its ties with
the country. Seoul launched its "New Asia Diplomacy" imitative last year, aiming
to strengthen relations with Asian neighbors.
"It (the Myanmar problem) is a thorny issue for the South Korean government," the
source said. "So far, South Korea has expressed its position on the matter
indirectly -- only saying that it is interested in the issue. It would be hard
for South Korea to directly call for the Myanmar government to resolve the human
rights issue."
lcd@yna.co.kr
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