S. Korea-U.S. alliance to get stronger under new administration

SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens said Tuesday that whoever wins the U.S. election this week, the South Korea-U.S. alliance will remain robust.

"This transition in the United States is going to be the one towards a broader
and deeper relationship and take it to a new level," she said in a speech on the
eve of the U.S. presidential election.
Stephens, who worked in South Korea in the 1970s as a Peace Corps volunteer, said
it is understandable for South Koreans to be very sensitive about any U.S.
presidential elections.
She said both the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, and his Republican rival,
John McCain, will seek to bolster the alliance if elected.
"There is a bipartisan support for our alliance," she said.
The ambassador also expressed hope that Congress will begin the long-delayed
process of ratifying the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two nations.
"As far as I know, in the history of free trade agreements in the United States
by every administration, (every FTA) has been sent to Congress and has been
ratified," she said. "Especially in the context of these economic challenges,
there will be very thoughtful and full discussion of this agreement."
Stephens also made clear that the U.S. will continue the six-way talks on the
North Korean nuclear issue along with South Korea, China, Russia, and Japan.
"This multilateral format is the right process. We've gotta stick to it," she said.
lcd@yna.co.kr