[Editorial] ROK-US Alliance on the Verge of Collapse

Spring is just around the corner. Nonetheless, responsible citizens worrying about the future of this nation have no leisure of enjoying or appreciating the upcoming spring. North Korea is pushing the enveloping with its nuclear program. President Kim Dae Jung aroused resentment among South Koreans with his alleged apology for secretly giving astronomical amount of money to North. Inauguration of incoming Roh Moo-hyun administration does not give much hope, which will face hardship with Congress dominated by the opposition Grand National Party. For these reasons, South Koreans still feel the freezing temperature inside. The mentality is also confirmed in a special forum hosted by Dong-A Ilbo and Stanford University, which was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ROK-US alliance.

The current status of ROK-US alliance can be understood by examining where the alliance stands and what differences exist between two countries in approaching various issues. Rather than celebrating the 50-year old alliance, the relationship between the two countries has been frozen, entering the worst chapter ever. But the future does not offer any sanguine signs of "détente." It is likely to get much worse in the process of handling of North Korea`s nuclear standoff and talks for "re-balancing" and reducing US forces in Korea. 50 experts from South Korea, the United States, Japan, China and Russia diagnosed the current ROK-US relationship and concluded that the United States and South Korea have verified differences between them.

The forum was not for "showing-off" centered around promotions and formality. It was a venue of free discussion for finding out ways to narrow the gap between two countries and, based thereon, making recommendations to both countries. In this respect, the forum conveyed a special meaning. At the end of the discussion, the participant specialists summed up their opinions in a statement consisting of 7 major recommendations. Among other things, they recommend that South Korea and the United States should jointly set up strategies and implementation methods for resolution of North Korea`s nuclear issue, and delineate the limitation on North Korea`s nuclear weapons program together. They also urge both countries to restore their relationship to the one that existed prior to October of 2002.

Countries involved including South and North Korea and the United States should pay attention to their advice. Hopefully, Mr. Roh, about to swear in as president, has to take their diagnosis and recommendations seriously.