S. Korea's Kim tells people
U.S. presence has benefitsBy Jim Lea
Osan bureau chief
PYONGTAEK, South Korea — South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, worried about rising anti-Americanism, said Tuesday that criticism of U.S. policies is acceptable but warned anti-U.S. groups to "refrain from taking hasty action that is of no benefit to the country."
Kim made the statements during a meeting with members of his cabinet, according to the presidential spokesman’s office.
During the meeting, Kim reiterated his belief that a U.S. troop presence is essential to maintaining peace and security on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia.
He said last month’s historic inter-Korean Summit and recent improvements in relations with North Korea would not have been possible without the support of the United States.
"The U.S. military presence benefits our national interests," Kim said.
The 37,000 U.S. troops are "needed now and will be needed for the foreseeable future, even after unification" of the two Koreas, he said.
"Our people must think more wisely about our national interests," he said.
Kim’s comments came as U.S. and South Korean officials were preparing to open talks Wednesday on possible revision of the countries’ Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the U.S. military presence in South Korea.
The agreement, called SOFA, has been the focus of an increasing number of anti-U.S. protest rallies and demonstrations over the past three months.
The latest rally was held Tuesday at Seoul’s Myongdong Cathedral, a favorite venue for protest groups.
The People’s Action for the Reform of the Unjust ROK-U.S. SOFA sponsored the protest, which drew less than 50 people, police said.
Waving picket signs and shouting slogans, the protesters engaged in shoving matches with police trying to prevent them from holding an anti-U.S. rally near the American embassy.
Speakers demanded a "comprehensive revision" of the SOFA, including articles covering U.S. Forces Korea land use and prosecution of U.S. troops accused of breaking Korean law.
They also demanded an article holding USFK responsible for environmental protection be included in the agreement.
SOFA critics contend the agreement does not give Korea the protection afforded by similar agreements with Japan and Germany.
Kim himself, perhaps unintentionally, lent weight to the anti-SOFA movement in a recent interview with the L.A. Times. He called the agreement unfair and said it must be revised.
Other recent anti-U.S. protests have centered on the U.S. Air Force’s Koon-ni bombing range, the escape from U.S. custody of an American soldier en route to his trial in Korean court for murdering a Korean prostitute, and the Army’s dumping of formaldehyde into the Seoul sewer system.
At the Tuesday meeting, Kim told his cabinet that these issues have been exacerbated by radical students and special-interest groups to highlight their own anti-American agenda.
"Our people should remember that the United States is not only our major partner in providing security for the nation," he said. "It also is our major partner in economic and international relations matters."
Because of the anti-American atmosphere in the country, U.S. Force Korea, the Pacific Command and the Pentagon have been warning members of the military community to be cautious when traveling off base in South Korea.
USFK has advised people not to travel off base alone and issued a warning last week that the radical student group Hanchongnyon may attempt to kidnap Americans.
The U.S. State Department also has issued a Warden Notice to Americans living in or traveling to Korea to "stay alert, keep a low profile, avoid large crowds, travel in groups (and) avoid confrontations."
Bae Gi-chul contributed to this
report.
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