Posted on 02/23/2003 4:50:12 AM PST by 27D4
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)--Not long ago, angry chants of ``murderous American GIs'' and the somber flicker of anti-U.S. candlelight vigils once filled the downtown streets of Seoul. But as tension builds over North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program, pro-American rallies are drawing big crowds in the South Korean capital. ``The majority has been silent too long,'' said Kim Bum-soo, who is helping organize a major pro-U.S. demonstration March 1 urging Washington to keep its troops here. Supporters hope to attract 500,000 people. It follows two pro-American rallies last month that each attracted tens of thousands to support South Korea's top ally. The more vocal pro-American mood swing is a turnaround from just months ago when tens of thousands of South Koreans joined candlelit protests and chanted down the U.S. military after the deaths of two South Korean girls struck by an American vehicle. At that time, pro-U.S. counterrallies managed to muster only dozens. Now with the tide shifted, anti-U.S. protests are now small and localized, such as a recent one opposing a construction project at a U.S. base. Giving impetus to the turnaround is talk in Washington of cutting back on the 37,000 U.S. troops based in South Korea as a deterrent against a North Korean attack. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said last week that the United States is working to see if it should restructure or reduce its forces or possibly move troops away from Seoul or the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas. And Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, commander of the U.S. military in Korea, acknowledged Thursday that Seoul and Washington need to reassess their 50-year-old military alliance. That's chilling news to many in South Korea, especially the older generation that remembers the North Korean invasion that sparked the 1950-53 war. No one has indicated that such a troop adjustment is imminent, and analysts say it would be unlikely to happen during the current North Korean standoff. But to many South Koreans, it is premature to even talk about tinkering with defenses while North Korea is believed to be sitting on one or two atomic bombs and trying to develop more. ``Definitely, this is going to give the wrong signal,'' Kim said. Rising to the call is a cross-section of staunchly anti-communist Christian and Buddhist groups, as well as veterans and elderly who survived the Korean War. Even President-elect Roh Moo-hyn, who takes office next week and has vowed not to ``kowtow'' to Washington, sees a stable troop level as a key policy plank. Most South Koreans favor the presence of U.S. troops, even if only grudgingly. But an underlying resentment flourishes, especially among the young who want South Korea to be more independent and see Washington as provoking the North. Hinting at a troop reduction now may be Washington's way of trying to rein in the South, which has differed with the United States over the standoff with North Korea, said Paik Haksoon of the Sejong Institute think tank outside Seoul. The United States already has plans to consolidate bases and will phase out dozens of its 95 installations by 2011. But if U.S. forces were pulled out or actually scaled back, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense estimates it would boost South Korean defense spending from 2.7 percent of gross domestic product to as high as 6 percent. That could undercut President-elect Roh's hopes of rekindling the sour economy. ``They are trying to persuade us into taking their side,'' Paik said. ``The U.S. is trying to play a trump card.''
By HANS GREIMEL Associated Press Writer
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)--Not long ago, angry chants of ``murderous American GIs'' and the somber flicker of anti-U.S. candlelight vigils once filled the downtown streets of Seoul.
But as tension builds over North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons program, pro-American rallies are drawing big crowds in the South Korean capital.
``The majority has been silent too long,'' said Kim Bum-soo, who is helping organize a major pro-U.S. demonstration March 1 urging Washington to keep its troops here.
Supporters hope to attract 500,000 people. It follows two pro-American rallies last month that each attracted tens of thousands to support South Korea's top ally.
The more vocal pro-American mood swing is a turnaround from just months ago when tens of thousands of South Koreans joined candlelit protests and chanted down the U.S. military after the deaths of two South Korean girls struck by an American vehicle.
At that time, pro-U.S. counterrallies managed to muster only dozens. Now with the tide shifted, anti-U.S. protests are now small and localized, such as a recent one opposing a construction project at a U.S. base.
Giving impetus to the turnaround is talk in Washington of cutting back on the 37,000 U.S. troops based in South Korea as a deterrent against a North Korean attack.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said last week that the United States is working to see if it should restructure or reduce its forces or possibly move troops away from Seoul or the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.
And Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, commander of the U.S. military in Korea, acknowledged Thursday that Seoul and Washington need to reassess their 50-year-old military alliance.
That's chilling news to many in South Korea, especially the older generation that remembers the North Korean invasion that sparked the 1950-53 war.
No one has indicated that such a troop adjustment is imminent, and analysts say it would be unlikely to happen during the current North Korean standoff. But to many South Koreans, it is premature to even talk about tinkering with defenses while North Korea is believed to be sitting on one or two atomic bombs and trying to develop more.
``Definitely, this is going to give the wrong signal,'' Kim said. Rising to the call is a cross-section of staunchly anti-communist Christian and Buddhist groups, as well as veterans and elderly who survived the Korean War.
Even President-elect Roh Moo-hyn, who takes office next week and has vowed not to ``kowtow'' to Washington, sees a stable troop level as a key policy plank.
Most South Koreans favor the presence of U.S. troops, even if only grudgingly. But an underlying resentment flourishes, especially among the young who want South Korea to be more independent and see Washington as provoking the North.
Hinting at a troop reduction now may be Washington's way of trying to rein in the South, which has differed with the United States over the standoff with North Korea, said Paik Haksoon of the Sejong Institute think tank outside Seoul.
The United States already has plans to consolidate bases and will phase out dozens of its 95 installations by 2011. But if U.S. forces were pulled out or actually scaled back, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense estimates it would boost South Korean defense spending from 2.7 percent of gross domestic product to as high as 6 percent.
That could undercut President-elect Roh's hopes of rekindling the sour economy.
``They are trying to persuade us into taking their side,'' Paik said. ``The U.S. is trying to play a trump card.''
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