Posted on 07/21/2006 6:42:27 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Korea-US Alliance Cracking
By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter
South Korea finds itself increasingly at odds with the United States over how to deal with the adamant North Korea as Pyongyang adopts a more hardline policy in the face of growing pressures from the outside.
North Korea’s missile tests on July 5 initially brought the allies to a united front. But there is now a widening rift over decisions regarding sanctions on North Korea since the United Nations Security Council resolution on July 15.
Hardliners in Washington and Tokyo proposed stronger measures to tame the Stalinist North but President Roh Moo-hyun called for a ``softer’’ diplomatic approach to the problems.
In a meeting of security-related Cabinet ministers at Chong Wa Dae Wednesday, Roh set forth his negative feelings toward additional sanctions or pressures on the North, a thinly veiled objection to the hawkish approaches by Washington and Tokyo.
``The missile launches were a wrong behavior and are feared not only to harm peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula but also trigger a regional arms race,’’ Roh was quoted as telling the ministers. ``But the moves by some forces (countries), which create unnecessary tension, will not be helpful either for settling the problems.’’
His remarks came at a time when Washington is moving to restore a package of economic sanctions against North Korea that was eased in July 2000 under the Bill Clinton administration.
Stuart Levey, the U.S. Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, told South Korean officials in Seoul earlier this week that senior U.S. officials are discussing follow-up measures, according to officials here.
Levey was reported to have raised concerns that cash flowing into North Korea through the inter-Korean joint businesses can be diverted for developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
Song Min-soon, Roh’s chief security aide denied the reports, indicating that the inter-Korean industrial complex in Kaesong and tourism project at Mt. Kumgang would be continued.
However, South Korea was caught off guard yesterday when Pyongyang notified Seoul all of a sudden that it would stop family reunion programs.
Pyongyang’s move is apparently in retaliation for Seoul’s suspension of aid following the missile test-firing.
``North Korea’s sudden halt to the reunion project has an aspect of pressuring the South Korean government not to easily align itself with the United States and Japan for a closer cooperation,’’ said Professor Nam Sung-wook of Korea University in Seoul.
North Korea watchers, however, said Pyongyang’s latest attempts to drive a wedge between South Korea and the United States, which seem to be initiated by the North’s hardliners, could only end up pushing South Korea further into a corner.
Cho Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, suggested South Korea have some time until after the phase of escalated tension fades out rather than reacting to the North with an unpleasant feeling.
``We don’t need to react to North Korea’s emotional response,’’ he said. ``What we have to do now is to try to calm down the North as it would be wanting to find a face-saving exit in the near future.’’
If these morons keep this up, S. Korea will be slapped with financial sanctions, too. All S. Korean banking institution will be affected, starting with those banks dealing with corporations doing business with N. Korea.
Roh Moo-hyun recently started FTA negotiation with U.S. It pretty much surprised everybody, including U.S.. IMHO, this is a ploy to keep U.S. from completely turning away from S. Korea, while Roh's government continue to obstruct U.S. policy toward N. Korea. His decision to send 3,000-strong Zaytun Brigade of S. Korea to Iraq could be based on the same reason. Give whatever can mollify U.S. just enough to put up with S. Korean government's antics.
He is determined to guard his appeasement policy at all costs. He once declared during his campaign in 2002, "If we get N. Korea thing right, it's OK everything else can go to hell." Seems this was not an empty compaign talk. He is dangerously close to becoming an outright traitor.
Some S. Koreans have wondered from time to time whether Roh Moo-hyun could finish his full term, judging from his unscrupulous and destructive course of actions. It is increasingly possible that this is no longer a rhetorical question.
I think Sutart Levey brought some serious message, demanding clear 'Yes or No' answer. I have been afraid of the possibility that S. Korea could become Israel and California rolled-up together. Security catastrophe equivalent to that of Israel after Al Aqsa Riot, and economic disaster comparable to Claifornia Treasury's bankrupcy after its power crisis. It would just happen thanks to fearlessly twisted Roh.:(
Ping!
Hey Roh, no problem! You take care of it.
Guys, pack your things, we're out'a here, all 37,000 of us.
I am asking this as a serious question. Do we really need South Korea? Is there any strategic value to our presence there? If not, then lets get out and do everything we can to provoke the North to invade. I would LOVE to see all how all these South Korean students (read useful idiots) who want reunification so badly react. I mean, the first time they protest the beloved leader I would love to see their faces as the bullets spray the crowd and/or they are shipped off to the gulag.
Hell, at least the Iraqis want freedom and are willinig to fight for it. Yo, John Murtha, you want to "re-deploy" well I have an idea. Lets stop wasting time in Korea and re-deploy our troops where they are somewhat wanted, but definitely needed.
"Guys, pack your things, we're out'a here, all 37,000 of us."
And we will take our weapons thank you. By the way, if you are looking for us, we will be somewhere near Tehran. Don't forget to write.
We can do all the defending we need to do from Guam.
"The South Koreans are such a bunch of limp wrist-ed pansies."
You really don't know what the hell you are talking about.
"I really think they need to get smacked around a bit to welcome them to the REAL WORLD."
Yeah, they've been without war, starvation, raping, and pillaging for a few decades. They know nothing about the real world. /sarc You have no idea what you are talking about.
bump for later...........
On the bright side, this will allow us to crush pinkos and commies in S. Korea in one big punch. They made themselves so visible and blatant, and lost popular appeal faster than they came to power.
There are two stories going on at the moment. Pinkos and reds doing their last bang, while people are coalescing to crush them. The middle ground is evaporating. Ruling party's popularity is about 13%, while conservative opposition's is about 50%. A rather unusual statistic because opposition party rarely climb over 40% in a poll in the past.
It will be a really interesting time between now and the end of next year. A lot can happen. I expect a dramatic swing to the right. "Koreans do not do shades of gray; they flip," quoting Aidan Forster-Carter.
I think South Korea want a reunification like Germany had. Unfortunately, in this case, East Germany comes out on top.
Pull our troops out of South Korea. Let THEM deal with the problem if they don't like the way we do it. They'll get what they deserve. They'll be shocked when they wake up one morning to find T-72s rolling down their streets. Their assuming that NK doesn't have the resources to mount an invasion, but they're wrong...Kim will starve however many it takes to do it, on the assumption at after he invades, he'll just take what he needs from the South. And stand by for a huge wave of South Korean immigration to the US when it happens. I just hope that Hyundai and other companies move here too. Don't leave anything for Krackpot Kim to use.
Good Cop, Bad Cop? Diplomatic feeler? Plain idiocy??
People tend to look at a few idiot college students and think they represent the entire country. If you did that same thing to the US you would get an equally distorted view.
SK is well aware of the danger and proximity of NK.
When the bombs and artillary from the North starts falling on Seoul who are they going to call?
Since at least the mid-70's, S Korea has been devoted to and become expert at shamelessly and greedily exploiting America in every way imaginable IN ADDITION TO the military umbrella we have provided. Time for it to swim or sink on its own, or let the United Nations step back up to the S Korean plate again.
"Since at least the mid-70's, S Korea has been devoted to and become expert at shamelessly and greedily exploiting America in every way imaginable IN ADDITION TO the military umbrella we have provided."
And your rational for that is what?
S.K. is going to end up "peacefully negotiating" itself into a complete takeover by Uncle Kim.
Does nobody in the world study history any more?
Personal experiences and observations on the ground in S Korea and east Asia over many years as well as freely available info on and from ROK from many quarters. I wasn't blinded by the easy and cheap fun I had while on active duty there. 15 or even 20 years is OK as a welfare child, but more than half a century is preposterous, in fact an embarrasment.
R.O.K. army man for man is one hell of a fighting force.
Politicians though everywhere often are Limp wristed pansies.
The south has the economic miracle and their lives have improved dramatically. The north is a gulag.
Most of the South don't want to lose what they've worked so hard for.
Push comes to shove the South will Defend themselves.
Roh is a limp wristed sissyboy.
Move US troops out of SK. Station them where we are needed like Japan, and US territories and states like Guam,Hawaii,The marshall islands, and Alaska. SK will be beijing and NK boot lickers soon enough. We have tried to help them but they spit in our face. Time to leave and let them defend themsleves.Its a waste of money for us. Boycott Hyundai,KIA,Samsung, and other assorted Korean garbage.
It certainly seems like they are clueless when it comes to having a tyrant with homocidal tendencies on your border.
"It certainly seems like they are clueless when it comes to having a tyrant with homocidal tendencies on your border."
Clueless? They are pretty well aware of it. What should they do to rid themselves of this ugly neighbor?
"Push comes to shove the South will Defend themselves.
Roh is a limp wristed sissyboy."
And thats why the conservatives won by a landside in this last election.
There is a heck of a lot more to South Korea then the areas surrounding military bases. They have strong families, strong morals and work harder than most people I have ever met.
NOT IN A MILLION YEARS did I expect that the most disgusting appeasement mind-set in the world to come from SOUTH KOREA.
France? Yes. Or the Netherlands. Or Denmark. But not South Korea.
It is just amazing, and it is completely disgusting.
I wish there were 10,000 million TigerLikesRoosters, but apparently it will take an actual ATTACK from the North for them to come out of the woodwork, and by then, alas, will be too late.
Oh, well...Okinawa is fun, and so is Guam.
Although my preference would be to put them on a free-fire zone on the southern US border.
South Korea sent troops to Iraq? I didn't know that. I guess we have to put up with their nonsense over North Korea.
Roh is very unpopular. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't finish his term.
http://www.citymayors.com/politics/southkorea_elections06.html "The chairman of SK president's political party resigns after accepting responsibility for a sweeping defeat in local elections. Voters overwhelmingly selected members of the main conservative opposition party to fill local authority positions, possibly dealing a serious blow to the ability of the country’s president's to advance his agenda"
Never understood the self destructive bent of S.K. lately.
Yep, they work as harder then I care to.
Looks to me like Korea could be unified soon.
I don't think the folks in South Korea are going to enjoy it.
Wonder how we'll handle all those South Korean immigrants.
"Never understood the self destructive bent of S.K. lately."
Socialists had taken control of the government. What else would happen with them in control?
But they've been voted out of office so it shoudl improve.
In my 1980 assignment, I would have beaten anyone bloody who suggested that we remove our troops from Korea. The Koreans were friendly .. and, up at Camp Casey near the DMZ, VERY friendly .. and wholly appreciated and respected our presence there. The place was still fairly primitive but the atmosphere was very pleasant.
In my 1988 assignment, I would have listened impatiently to anyone suggesting a pullout and then responded, quite heatedly, that, although the wimps down in Seoul were becoming a pain and no longer even remotely friendly to Americans, it was just like big cities back here in the States .. liberal and overly-trusting of the "innate goodness of the Communists" .. those Koreans living up near the pointy end of the stick by the DMZ were still very appreciative for our presence and deserved to be protected from their barbarian brothers to the North. Then I would have hit him.
In my last tour there, in 1994, I saw the atmosphere had completely changed .. and not for the better .. up along the DMZ. Even the Koreans most exposed to North Korean infiltration and heavy artillery were disrespectful, obnoxious, and arrogant in their belief that it was only the Americans that were in the way of a peaceful reunification of Korea. If anyone had suggested that we pull out of Korea, I would have agreed that, maybe it was time to go. South Korea seemed to be of the opinion that they could take care of themselves, and who was I to disabuse them of that belief.
Since my last tour there, through my retirement in 1995, and into my stint as a DA civil service employee, I have had the following epiphany ...
We not only should pull out immediately, but should have done so yesterday, removing any piece of equipment that wasn't nailed down and destroying the rest in place to the degree that no two bricks were stacked together. Then, as we pulled out, we should liberally shotgun-spray nukes on both sides of the DMZ just as our way of saying that we won't be coming back ... don't call us.
Ok until your last paragraph I was inclined to agree with you. Proposing to nuke them is pretty darn silly.
Suring the times I have been there I saw many GI's be incredibly rude and some were incredibly racist towards Koreans. Eventually that kind of behavior catches up as it feeds the misinformation. I also saw a lot of good GIs that represent America well.
(What we have to do now is to try to calm down the North ...)
Isn't that the definition of appeasement?
(Okay, the last phrase was meant as a joke .. sort of.)
It seems like we may already be seeing that swing. Didn't Roh's party get pummeled pretty badly in the last election?
"ou have yours and, I guess, saw things differently than I did. I do not view Korea as a dependable or even friendly neutral .. much less an ally .. any more"
Like I said I was just there and was treated great although I did see the socialist impact. People were happy that the UN had declared their national park a "world heritage site" but they didnt really undestand the implications.
They have also been under the influence and leadership of some really dumb people for the last few years. I have faith in them.
Yep.
How are they going to fuel those T-72s (do they even have any? I thought the best they had were T-62s and maybe M-2002s which are just a rumor)? Logistically, I doubt the North Korean military is capable of moving very far.
I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that the ROK can handily stop a NK invasion this time around. Sure, it might not be pretty, but as has been mentioned, the ROK military isn't the wimpy force it was in the early 50s--in fact, Vietnam proved them to be quite capable fighters. Furthermore, the qualitative adavantage afforded to ROK forces isn't restricted merely to training (although the DPRK doesn't even have the resources to conduct proper training), their technological advantage is enormous. The only imaginable way a North Korean invasion would succeed is if South Korea simply surrendered (or if they were nuked into oblivion).
Well, maybe the South thinks like you do. That would certainly fuel their pacifism. They'd better hope you're right and that I'm wrong.
I remember under the Clinton administration thousands of them were protesting with signs that read "US Out Of South Korea". It was from that time on that I have been wishing we'd bring the troops back.
http://jednet207.tripod.com/PoliticalLinks.html
I'd start with, "Anything humanly possible", and go from there. He's starving millions of their neighbors, friends, and even family members.
"I'd start with, "Anything humanly possible", and go from there."
Well that clears it up. Sounds like a sound plan to me.
LOL. Thanks for the smile.
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