Yonhap Interview) Korea Society's new chief frustrated by delay in FTA approval

(By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Yonhap) -- The incoming head of a U.S. organization dedicated to
the strengthening of the Korea-U.S. alliance on Wednesday expressed
disappointment at the lack of progress in the U.S. Congress on whether to approve
a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, but forecast the trade deal will
eventually be approved.

"I am disappointed that we were not able to move forward more quickly on the FTA.
I think there have been problems on the U.S. side ... many in our Congress have
been concerned about some elements of the agreement," Thomas Hubbard, incoming
chairman of the Korea Society, said during an interview with Yonhap News Agency.
Hubbard, who served as ambassador to South Korea from 2001 to 2004, was recently
named the chairman of the Korea Society, a New York-based private organization
dedicated to the promotion of cooperation between the peoples of the United
States and Korea. The former career diplomat, who takes over the chairmanship
next month, is visiting South Korea to meet with government and business
officials here.
The Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, known as the KORUS FTA, was signed in June
2007 but has yet to be approved by the two countries' legislative bodies. In the
U.S., the Democratic-controlled Congress has been focused on health care reform
and economic measures to cope with the global crisis.
South Korea's National Assembly has also been delaying deliberations on the free
trade deal, due to bipartisan wrangling over the impact of the free trade deal on
domestic industries.
Hubbard said that the U.S. administration is currently "in the process of putting
together its overall trade policy."
"We need to probably deal with some issues with automobiles... I'm convinced that
the FTA will be eventually be approved but it may take some more time," he said.
On the issue of former U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to North Korea and his
meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Hubbard believed that the landmark
incident can "serve to create a better atmosphere" regarding multilateral talks
aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear program.
"His visit was not directly related to the nuclear issue but he had the
opportunity meet with Kim Jong-il for about three hours ... I'm sure President
Clinton made clear to Kim that if North Korea wants to have a place in the
international community, it has to give up its nuclear weapons program," said
Hubbard.
Clinton's visit to Pyongyang last week, in which he rescued two American
journalists imprisoned by North Koreans for illegally entering the secretive
nation, surprised the international community, which has become increasingly
frustrated by the North's months of provocations, highlighted by a long-range
rocket launch in April and a second nuclear test the following month.
Regarding bilateral relations, the former envoy described the current state of
South Korea-U.S. alliance as being "very very good."
"I think our positions on key issues, such as the alliance, the military
relationship and North Korea are all closer than ever before. I feel very good
about the relationship now."
The incoming chairman also saw "more opportunities than obstacles" in the future
relation of the two countries.
"The obstacles are very few. We still need to worry about North Korea, we need to
complete the process of changing our military relationship, the changing of
wartime operational control command and relocate U.S. bases here... but I believe
we have more opportunities."
odissy@yna.co.kr
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