ID :
53020
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 08:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/53020
The shortlink copeid
(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on March 31) - Missile measures
United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates has made it clear that the U.S. will not try to shoot down the rocket that North Korea plans to launch. President Lee Myung-bak has also announced his opposition to a military response.
These comments represent a change from the previous positions stated by South
Korea and the U.S. Earlier, they pointed out that the road the North is taking
goes against United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, which prohibits the
North from engaging in ballistic missile activity.
It seems President Lee and Gates have reluctantly modified their stance,
concluding that the last channels of communication with Pyongyang should not be
completely closed even after its launch.
However, although the two countries have adopted a united front about the use of
military means to stop the North Korean launch, the interests of South Korea and
the U.S. are not necessarily the same.
Gates has dampened talk of a missile launch, saying the North Korean rocket is
not a threat since it would not reach U.S. territory.
But how about South Korea? The security of the South depends totally on its
alliance with the U.S. Seoul???s defense depends on how fast U.S. forces can be
committed in the Korean Peninsula from bases in Japan, the Pacific regions and
the U.S.
Since North Korea???s missiles could strike Hawaii, Guam or even Alaska, it seems
they are intended to pre-emptively block the commitment of U.S. forces to the
Korean Peninsula in the event of war.
North Korea???s missiles might not be a direct threat to the U.S., but they are
to Seoul.
Clearly, the comments by Gates and President Lee reveal close cooperation between
the two countries, but we can???t help harboring considerable concern about the
Korea-U.S. alliance.
It is not enough to vaguely confirm the Korea-U.S. alliance. Instead, Seoul
should talk about how to block hundreds of missiles that the North has targeted
at the South.
It should discuss whether we can be 100 percent confident that the U.S. will not
neglect the security of the South, and also look at what measures the two
governments are taking against North Korea???s weapons of mass destruction.
The South Korean government might be forced to accept that it has no choice but
to participate in a missile defense program, which has been delayed because of
budget problems.
We might also have to consider developing long-range missiles and nuclear
weapons, a move that so far has been unnecessary because of our alliance with the
United States.
(END)
Delete
These comments represent a change from the previous positions stated by South
Korea and the U.S. Earlier, they pointed out that the road the North is taking
goes against United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, which prohibits the
North from engaging in ballistic missile activity.
It seems President Lee and Gates have reluctantly modified their stance,
concluding that the last channels of communication with Pyongyang should not be
completely closed even after its launch.
However, although the two countries have adopted a united front about the use of
military means to stop the North Korean launch, the interests of South Korea and
the U.S. are not necessarily the same.
Gates has dampened talk of a missile launch, saying the North Korean rocket is
not a threat since it would not reach U.S. territory.
But how about South Korea? The security of the South depends totally on its
alliance with the U.S. Seoul???s defense depends on how fast U.S. forces can be
committed in the Korean Peninsula from bases in Japan, the Pacific regions and
the U.S.
Since North Korea???s missiles could strike Hawaii, Guam or even Alaska, it seems
they are intended to pre-emptively block the commitment of U.S. forces to the
Korean Peninsula in the event of war.
North Korea???s missiles might not be a direct threat to the U.S., but they are
to Seoul.
Clearly, the comments by Gates and President Lee reveal close cooperation between
the two countries, but we can???t help harboring considerable concern about the
Korea-U.S. alliance.
It is not enough to vaguely confirm the Korea-U.S. alliance. Instead, Seoul
should talk about how to block hundreds of missiles that the North has targeted
at the South.
It should discuss whether we can be 100 percent confident that the U.S. will not
neglect the security of the South, and also look at what measures the two
governments are taking against North Korea???s weapons of mass destruction.
The South Korean government might be forced to accept that it has no choice but
to participate in a missile defense program, which has been delayed because of
budget problems.
We might also have to consider developing long-range missiles and nuclear
weapons, a move that so far has been unnecessary because of our alliance with the
United States.
(END)
Delete
