S. Korean envoy to U.S. says Washington remains firm on FTA, N. Korea

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- The United States remains unchanged in its resolve to
enact its free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea and to end North Korea's
nuclear weapons programs, Seoul's ambassador to Washington Han Duck-soo said
Thursday.
"As President (Barack) Obama noted in his state of the union address, the U.S.
administration is stressing the need to promote its trade relations, including
the Korea-U.S. FTA, for the creation of jobs and President Obama, too, has been
publicly promoting such a position since his address," the South Korean
ambassador told reporters.
"As other related secretaries are also promoting that position at various
occasions, I believe the U.S. administration is trying to convince (the American
public) the positive link between trade and job creation," he added.
Han was named the top envoy to the United States last year amid efforts by both
Seoul and Washington to enact their free trade deal, signed over two years ago in
2007. The agreement has yet to be ratified by the countries' legislatures.
Han, 59, was considered the best person to persuade the U.S. administration and
Congress to quickly enact the Korea-U.S. FTA as he was South Korea's prime
minister when the deal was signed by the then South Korean administration of
President Roh Moo-hyun.
Han noted it may take more time before the U.S. administration can actively seek
Congress' endorsement of the trade agreement, potentially worth billions of
dollars for both countries.
"I believe there are many political restraints (for the U.S. government) to
actively deal with the trade at the U.S. Congress as its efforts to deal with
other urgent issues, such as climate change, financial and medical reforms, are
being delayed," he said.
Han is on a brief trip back home for the annual conference of heads of South
Korea's diplomatic missions overseas.
The ambassador said the U.S. also remained firm in its position to rid North
Korea of any nuclear weapons or programs, dismissing suspicions that Washington
might resign itself to a nuclear North Korea as long as the communist regime does
not transfer any atomic weapons or material out of the country.
"I believe the U.S. has two major goals in its North Korea policy. The first one
is the complete and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea and the second
is that this must be realized through peaceful means and dialogue," Han told
reporters.
South Korea and the U.S. are part of six-nation talks on ending North Korea's
nuclear ambition, but the talks have stalled since December 2008 due to a North
Korean boycott. The talks also involve Japan, China and Russia.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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