President Kim stresses necessity of USFK

President Kim Dae-Jung said that South and North Korea are not in a stage to seek unification at the moment and that the two Koreas are required to create an atmosphere for peaceful coexistence and bilateral exchange without a fear of war. He stressed that the role of countries surrounding the Korean peninsula is important in the process, adding that the presence of the U.S. ground troops in South Korea has to be maintained even after the unification of the two Koreas.

Kim has made such a remark when asked about the role of the United States and situation of the Korean peninsula following the South-North Korean summit, in a meeting at Chong Wa Dae with U.S. Representative Jessy Jackson and other members of the parliament who have a keen interest in Taekwondo.

Choi Young-Mook ymook@donga.com