DJ stresses necessity of USFK

President Kim Dae-Jung reaffirmed that the roles of powers surrounding the Korean Peninsular are significant and in particular the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) should continue to station in the country even after the unification.

Meeting with four U.S. Reps including Jesse Jackson and other delegates, all of whom are taekwondo lovers, at Chong Wa Dae on July 8th, President Kim said, ¡°the South and North Korea are not currently in the stage heading for the unification but the two Koreas should create an environment in which all the Korean people can safely live without war through peaceful coexistence, exchanges and cooperations¡±

President Kim also appraised that the recent Pyongyang-Washington relations are taking a favorable turn, representing Washington¡¯s recent partial lift of economic sanctions against Pyongyang, and the communist country¡¯s reconfirmation of its suspension of missile test launches.

¡°The solidified South Korea-U.S. alliance is the key to the future engagement policy toward the North,¡± he continued, calling for the continuous support from the leaders in all the circles of Washington.

President Kim said to the delegates visiting the country to attend the second Korea-U.S. Friendly Training Tournament that he hopes Americans understand Korean culture through taekwondo, since the martial art contains Korea¡¯s traditional courtesy and moderation. And he praised taekwondo instructor Jun Lee for his great efforts to the Korean martial art¡¯s spread in the U.S.

Youngmook Choi ymook@donga.com