Nation to Prepare for Security Status Change
2003-03-11
President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday (March 11) stressed the need for the country to be prepared for possible changes to the security situation on the peninsula.
In a congratulatory speech at the 59th graduation ceremony of the Korea Military Academy, President Roh said, “Concern is being voiced regarding the repositioning of U.S. soldiers in Korea, but this concern is nothing new.”
“The important thing is how thoroughly we make preparations. As long as we are fully prepared, there will be no crisis. Furthermore, we will be able to turn crisis into opportunity,” Roh said. “I say we can confidently deal with any contingency.”
Both the government and the U.S. are reviewing the U.S. military presence here, with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld reportedly saying they may withdraw some of their soldiers.
Sources say the two allies have not agreed on a timeframe, as Seoul wants to readjust the current U.S. troop presence over a longer period of time than Washington prefers.
Roh said in his speech, “South Korea and the U.S. will be closely coordinated on all issues related to U.S. troops here, under the principle of a solid ROK-U.S. alliance.”
He praised the role of the military alliance, which has contributed to national security here. “This alliance is worthy of further consolidation,” he said.
“The most urgent thing is the establishment of a lasting peace because, without it, everything is nothing but a sand castle and it would be impossible to realize the dream of prosperity in the land still frozen by the Cold War tensions,” Roh said.
Roh has pledged to improve inter-Korean relations through rapprochement, a stance that may run counter to that of the U.S. administration and President Bush. Bush has designated North Korea as part of an axis of evil together with Iraq and Iran.
Source : www.korea.net
