U.S.-North Korea Policy Expected to be Tougher

Condoleezza Rice, President Bush`s national security adviser, is said to be the successor to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who announced his resignation on Monday, the U.S. media reported on November 15. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly are also likely to step down, showing signs of major personnel changes in the State Department.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on November 15 that he did “not know if he (Deputy Secretary Armitage) has actually submitted one (any kind of letter of resignation) yet or not.” However, he continued to say, “Secretary Powell and Deputy Secretary Armitage, have been a very successful team and there`s generally the expectation, in together, out together.”

If the three major members of the State Department against the hawks in the cabinet resign, the North Korea policy of the second Bush administration will become tougher.

If Rice is designated as the Secretary of the State by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate, she will make the second woman secretary of state following Secretary Madeleine Albright during the Clinton Administration. Powell said he would remain in his post until his successor went through confirmation hearings.

Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley is a possible successor to Rice as national security adviser.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com