Sending Envoy Dependent upon North’s Response

On July 1, 2002, US Department of State announced that it would put on hold their decision to send, in the early next week, James Kelly, the assistant deputy secretary in charge of East Asia and the Pacific region to North. State Department said it had to consider the current developments such as the Yellow Sea Engagement and the North response to the US suggestion for exchanging special envoys.

Collin Powel, Secretary of State remarked in his interview with AFP, “We have to reconsider our last week’s decision [to send a special envoy]. We have to reflect in the current situation such as the North’s armed provocation in the Yellow Sea.”

He criticized the Yellow Sea Engagement, defining it as “Intentional armed provocation.” He continued, “We will have time and analyze with our Korean friends how we should respond.”

But AFP reported that he cautioned against the conclusion that the détente between US

and North is over due to the Yellow Sea Engagement, saying, “We are monitoring the development caused by the Yellow Sea Engagement. But I don’t want to comment on the validity of our suggestion for exchanging special envoys.”

The spokesman for the State Department, Richard Bauer, revealed at a regular briefing, “We have grave concerns about what happened. We have, however, suggested talks to the North. When the North Korea sends in its response, we will consider these two together.” On June 27, 2002, the Bush administration sent its suggestion for exchanging envoys via the North’s UN liaison office in New York. According to the suggestion, the assistant deputy secretary Kelly is expected to leave for the North early next week.

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com