[Opinion] Afghanistan War, What Would Be Next?

What would be the target of the U.S. war on terrorism? As the Afghanistan war is coming to an end, the questions for the next step of the U.S. war on terrorism has been raised. U.S. President George W. Bush repeatedly emphasized that Afghanistan war is only the beginning of war on terrorism. Therefore, it is certain that the war will not be completed even after the U.S. turns over the Taliban regime and destroys the terrorist organization al-Qaeda.

In this circumstance, it is noteworthy to note that the North, in addition to Iraq, has been named as a next target of the U.S. attack.

The reason why the North is highlighted after being ignored since 9.11 terror is related with the nuclear weapon and bio-chemical weapons of the North. The spread of weapons of mass destruction has become a new threat by international terrorist activities as shown by the U.S.`s anthrax panic over the nation and the terror threat by a nuclear weapon.

President Bush warned that the nations that develop the weapons of mass destruction have to take responsibility. Therefore, the second step of the war on terrorism will focus on the prevention of the spread of the weapons of mass destruction, and the North and Iraq have been pointed as the instigators of the spreading the weapons of mass destruction.

Of course, the U.S. expressed its worries about the weapons of mass destruction of the North including the North`s nuclear missile even before 9.11 incident. However, the recent warning cannot be ignored simply as a reiteration of the current policy. The context and the seriousness of the warning are totally different from the past.

The first issue that could be raised in terms of the North`s weapons of mass destruction would be to investigate the nuclear activity of the North in the past. The North must permit an investigation by the International Atomic Energy Agency on the past nuclear activities, according to the Geneva Agreed Framework, before it receives the core parts of the light water redactor. If the North is not cooperative, the tension in the Korean peninsula will accumulate.

The possibility of military attack is low for now but various measures will be applied to press the North and the situation could be very bad.

The 9.11 terror drastically changed the international order much more than any other incidents after the cold war. At least for the U.S., there is nothing more important than eliminating the international terror.

The U.S. is adjusting its foreign relationship whether to cooperate with the U.S. for the elimination of terror. This change is both crisis and opportunity to the North.

According to the North`s response, the North could face crisis or great improvement in the North-U.S. relationship.

It seems that the North has not grasp this opportunity well. The North expressed a kind of regret after the U.S. terror, but has criticized harshly against the U.S. attack on Afghanistan.

And the North expressed its intention to join the two international anti-terrorist agreements, but has not shown any substantial action. The most significant issue is the attitude of the North on the weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear missiles and bio-chemical weapons.

If the North relies on its old cliff-hanging tactics without a proper cooperation, the future of the North will be torturous.

9.11 incident provides similar challenges and opportunities to us as well. How to cooperate with the U.S. for the elimination of the terror will significantly affect the future relationship between Korea and the U.S.

If the Korea-U.S. cooperation is crucial for the future of Korea, we must join the U.S. effort to remove terrorism more actively. It has to be applied to the matter of the North`s weapons of mass destruction. Precisely recognizing the seriousness of the situation after the act of terrorism, [Korean government] must move forward to solve this problem in close cooperation with the U.S.

It does not mean we should just follow the U.S.. However, we need to make clear where we stand. If not and stands back halfway, [the Korean government] could damage the Korea-U.S. relationship, without resolving the threats by the weapons of mass destruction.

Next 6 months to a year from now will be very important period for the future of Korea. [Korea] must respond to the coming challenges on a ful alert.