Military

DATE=2/19/02

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=KIM / KOREA

NUMBER=3-56

BYLINE=KENT KLEIN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

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HOST: President Bush's recent remark that North Korea is part of what he called an "axis of evil" has caused some controversy in Seoul and led to expectations that Mr. Bush will receive a mixed reception in the South Korean capital.

Kim Taewoo (ty-OO) is the Director of External Relations at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (correct) in Seoul. He tells V-O-A News Now's Kent Klein the South Koreans' reaction to President Bush's visit probably depends on their view of their own country's dealings with North Korea....

MR. KIM: The South Korean public has been polarized according to how they perceive North Korea. So exactly the same context is now applied to President Bush's visit to South Korea. So my society, my public, the South Koreans, are divided into two camps over President Bush's visit. One side is very worried about the possible negative roles of America and President Bush over inter-Korean relations; while the other camp actually welcome his visit, because the United States may be the only power who can control and curb development of weapons of mass destruction in North Korea. So that is the polarization situation.

MR. KLEIN: Mr. Bush made a comment during his State of the Union speech to Congress several weeks ago, referring to North Korea, as well as Iraq and Iran, as being part of an "axis of evil."

MR. KIM: Right.

MR. KLEIN: In your view, did he do more harm than good by saying that?

MR. KIM: Well, I belong to the conservative side in Korea. Probably you would hear some different answers if you interviewed some liberal expert. But in my view President Bush's tough stance against North Korea is helping South Korean security. As you know, my government has been devoted to the sunshine policy for many years, without touching the problem of the weapons of mass destruction.

Now the United States is getting stronger and tougher against North Korea. So, in that sense, it will fill our security gap which we cannot deal with directly. In that sense, yes, President Bush is doing some positive things. But still, we are also worried about deterioration of inter-Korean relations, too.

MR. KLEIN: Do you think there is much of a prospect that that problem will be alleviated during Mr. Bush's visit?

MR. KIM: Partly, yes. The bottom line is that there will be some diplomatic rhetoric, such as the United States will support South Korea's North Korean policy, the sunshine policy. That kind of diplomatic rhetoric will definitely help narrow the gap of opinions between the two governments. But personally I think that would not solve the problem entirely. I think there will remain still fundamental differences between the approaches of the two governments towards North Korea.

MR. KLEIN: One highlight of the President's visit to Korea will be, as many American Presidents before him have done, he will go to the Demilitarized Zone and look over into North Korea and make a few remarks. What do you expect he will say and what do you think he should say when he does that?

MR. KIM: He will emphasize once again the ROK-U.S. alliance and the importance to the security here. That is very symbolic. And also he will say something very supportive of our policies toward North Korea. That also will be very symbolic.

But still we have a very difficult agenda, such as removal and redeployment of conventional weapons on the part of North Korea. That agenda is actually something that our government wants to deal with through a dialogue with North Korea. But our inter-Korean relations, our inter-Korean dialogue, is deadlocked while the United States intervenes very strongly in taking over that agenda. This can be a variable that invites some inconveniences between the two governments.

Another important agenda item is the new clear transparency of North Korea. That is a very important point.

HOST: Kim Taewoo (ty-OO) is with the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. He spoke with V-O-A News Now's Kent Klein from his office in Seoul.

NEB/KK/RAE