Korean Government Is Tuning the North-U.S. Relationship

The government is mobilizing every channel to break through the block between Korea and the U.S. in terms of the North Korean policies, created by the Bush`s remarks on `the axis of evil` on 7th.

Various Channels Are Operating: the government send Yang Seung-Chul, the Korean ambassador to the U.S., back to the U.S. two days earlier than scheduled plan for tuning the both positions before the Korea-U.S. summit on 20th.

Ambassador Yang is likely to deliver the President Kim Dae-Jung`s confidence on that "the nuclear missile problem of the North must be solved through dialogue based on the firm Korea-U.S. alliance relationship." and will discuss with the U.S. about various measures to invite the North to the negotiation table.

Park Sun-Sook, the spokesperson of Cheong Wa Dae, commented that "we will make a very careful and realistic decision through close cooperation and shared information about recent situation for the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula. There are some worries increasing but the government will not make any positive or negative judgment to this situation."

The government reportedly requested for the cooperation of the Japanese government through a diplomatic channel since Bush is coming to Korea via Japan, and Japan`s Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro promised to do something for it.

Moves For Regular Meeting of High Ranking Officials: the government is trying to establish a regular meeting of the high ranking officials of Korea and the U.S.

A high ranking official of the Korean government explained that the Korean government "proposed an agenda to establish a regular meeting of the high ranking officials during the Korea-U.S. summit. And the U.S. expressed its positive position but the details are still demanding more discussion."

The Korean government reportedly requested for an assistant vice minister level council which would be a step upgraded than Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group (TCOG) to coordinate the North Korean policies between Korea and the U.S.

The official remarked that "the establishment of the new council will shift the Korea-U.S. relationship from the North Korean policy oriented coordination to the relationship that the two countries coordinate the North Korean policies in the frame of the Korea-U.S. alliance relationship."

U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell sent a letter to Choi Sung-Hong, new Foreign Minister, through U.S. ambassador to Korea Thomas Hubbard, which reads that "the U.S. is seriously concerning about the worries in the Korean Peninsula and North East Asia in terms of the security. Particularly, we put high priority over the close negotiation between Korean and the U.S. concerning the North Korean policies."

State Secretary Powell also added that "the U.S. strongly support the engagement policy of the Korean government."

Hyung-Kwon Pu bookum90@donga.com · Chol-Hi Lee klimt@donga.com