ID :
46539
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 08:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/46539
The shortlink copeid
U.S. House defense committee chairman stresses trust in alliance
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- The chairman of the U.S. House defense committee met
Thursday with South Korea's top military official, emphasizing the importance of
trust between the two longtime allies.
"Trust is so very very important, and over the period of years, that has grown,"
said Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, who arrived here on Wednesday leading a
delegation of 12 Armed Services Committee members.
The three-day journey by the members of Congress coincides with the two-day visit
by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was scheduled to arrive in South
Korea Thursday evening.
Clinton began her four-nation Asian trip Monday with a warning to North Korea to
stop what appears to be preparations for a long-range missile test.
Seoul and Washington have one of the longest running military alliances in the
world. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a deterrent against North
Korea, and South Korea plans to regain wartime operational control of its 660,000
troops from the U.S. in 2012.
"We appreciate it (that) we have common goals," Skelton told South Korean Defense
Minister Lee Sang-hee. The meeting at the Ministry of National Defense proceeded
mostly behind closed doors.
North Korea remains in a technical state of war with the U.S. and South Korea
after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty.
The communist country has recently threatened an armed clash near a Yellow Sea
border that it claims should be drawn further south, and declared all military
accords with South Korea void.
U.S. and South Korean officials also said Pyongyang is preparing to test-fire its
most advanced missile, the Taepodong-2, which is believed to be capable of
reaching the western U.S.
"The visit by the lawmakers is a good opportunity to let North Korea know that
the U.S.-South Korean alliance remains solid as the North continues to raise
tension," Lee told the American delegation.
"Trust is more important in an alliance than any treaty," he added.
The delegation also meet with President Lee Myung-bak and Foreign Minister Yu
Myung-hwan.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- The chairman of the U.S. House defense committee met
Thursday with South Korea's top military official, emphasizing the importance of
trust between the two longtime allies.
"Trust is so very very important, and over the period of years, that has grown,"
said Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, who arrived here on Wednesday leading a
delegation of 12 Armed Services Committee members.
The three-day journey by the members of Congress coincides with the two-day visit
by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was scheduled to arrive in South
Korea Thursday evening.
Clinton began her four-nation Asian trip Monday with a warning to North Korea to
stop what appears to be preparations for a long-range missile test.
Seoul and Washington have one of the longest running military alliances in the
world. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a deterrent against North
Korea, and South Korea plans to regain wartime operational control of its 660,000
troops from the U.S. in 2012.
"We appreciate it (that) we have common goals," Skelton told South Korean Defense
Minister Lee Sang-hee. The meeting at the Ministry of National Defense proceeded
mostly behind closed doors.
North Korea remains in a technical state of war with the U.S. and South Korea
after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty.
The communist country has recently threatened an armed clash near a Yellow Sea
border that it claims should be drawn further south, and declared all military
accords with South Korea void.
U.S. and South Korean officials also said Pyongyang is preparing to test-fire its
most advanced missile, the Taepodong-2, which is believed to be capable of
reaching the western U.S.
"The visit by the lawmakers is a good opportunity to let North Korea know that
the U.S.-South Korean alliance remains solid as the North continues to raise
tension," Lee told the American delegation.
"Trust is more important in an alliance than any treaty," he added.
The delegation also meet with President Lee Myung-bak and Foreign Minister Yu
Myung-hwan.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
