US gov`t pledges full cooperation in rape case

The U.S. government has expressed regret over the alleged rape of a Korean female student by an American soldier in Dongducheon, north of Seoul, pledging full cooperation with the Korean government in the investigation.

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul said Thursday that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns telephoned Korean Ambassador Han Duck-soo in Washington to express "deep regret" over the case. A 21-year-old U.S. Army soldier with the 2nd Infantry Division in Dongducheon allegedly raped the girl Saturday.

Prior to the call, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell also told Han that Washington will closely cooperate with Seoul for a thorough investigation.

Saying an investigation was ongoing in the alleged rape, Campbell also said Edward Cardon, commander of the U.S. Army`s 2nd Infantry Division, issued a statement Wednesday expressing deep regret over the case and offering an apology to the Korean people.

Cho Byung-je, spokesman for the Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, told a regular news briefing Thursday that police referred the case to the prosecution for additional investigation.

"The government will take fair and quick legal measures on the basis of the Status of Forces Agreement," said the spokesman.

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