S Korea warns US against hardline stance on North

[allemand]

By Anna Fifield in Seoul
Published: January 25 2006 16:44 | Last updated: January 25 2006 16:44

South Korea’s president on Wednesday warned that relations between Seoul and Washington would deteriorate if the US tried to topple the North Korean regime, a message apparently aimed at US hardliners who appear increasingly tired of diplomacy.

As the Bush administration continues to impose crippling financial sanctions on North Korea while it investigates the alleged counterfeiting of US currency, Roh Moo-hyun reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a peaceful resolution to the current nuclear crisis.

“I do not agree with the position of some Americans, who appear to want to take issue with the North Korean regime or pressure it or sometimes seem to be wishing for its collapse,” Mr Roh said during his new year press conference on Wednesday.

Mr Roh’s comments underline the differences between the US’s containment and South Korea’s engagement approach to dealing with North Korea, differences that Pyongyang has sought to exploit.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/6673cde8-8dbf-11da-8fda-0000779e2340.html

Roh warns U.S. over N. Korea
By Choe Sang-Hun International Herald Tribune
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006

SEOUL President Roh Moo Hyun of South Korea warned Wednesday that any attempt by Washington to pressure or topple the North Korean regime would cause friction with Seoul.

Roh's remarks, delivered in a nationally televised news conference that was at times unusually combative, were the bluntest expression yet of the two principal dimensions of his policy. These are to seek rapprochement with North Korea and to check what analysts and some officials here see as the persistent desire within the Bush administration to undermine and possibly topple the government of Kim Jong Il.
(...)

Roh's expression of concern about the direction of U.S. policy underscored a sharpening divide among participants in the six-nation talks, first convened in 2003, over ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

On one side, China and South Korea support a gradual economic and political opening for the North, hoping that such a course would make the Pyongyang regime confident enough of its survival to abandon its nuclear weapons. Opposed to this approach are hawks in Washington who are growing impatient with it.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/25/news/korea.php?rss

[Lasher]

1. So, what are we doing with all those military bases still in South Korea?

Pull all of our troops out of South Korea now! Let the Koreas unify, even if that means an invasion from the north.

[enigma000]

4. Guess we know which side you were on during the Cold War

I suspect the South Koreans don't want reunification on North Korean terms.

[Posteritatis]

5. Ahh, so invasions are alright if it's the other guy doing it? (n/t)

[peacetalksforall]

2. Two dots? N. Korea leader visits China. S. Korea advises us

against radical position and pressure towards N. Korea.

Everyone should note this day and this message - because -

Bolton, Rice, and a vast right wing army are in charge and ready to continue to push their agenda their axis country - whatever it is they have in mind for sustaining perpetual wars on behalf of those who rule.

[Village Idiot]

3. It's a non-issue.

SHrubCo have NO INTENTION of attacking N. Korea. They kicked the USA's ass once before, I am certain they could easily do it again.

[Posteritatis]

9. Things change in fifty years

... Besides, I'd hardly consider the North Koreans to have "kicked the USA's ass" in the war; unlike South Vietnam, South Korea still exists.

[anotherdrew]

6. diplomacy? what diplomacy? nothing is happening but N K. building nukes...

as we stand by and let them.

I'd like to know what S. K. intends to do about this situation?

[gordianot]

7. North Korean military hardware is rusting.

They are approaching a use it or lose it position, their army is rapidly becoming obsolete. They do not have the cash to replace anything and considering all the capital they have spent over the years on military confrontation someday they will almost have to make a gamble. There is little hope of rearming with an economy that approaches starvation. The food and plunder in the South could offer some relief. You sure can't live off of selling nukes to other rogue states or terrorists. It doesn't put meat on the table.

Sounds to me like South Korea and North Korea needs to go it alone. I'm sure China would just love a unified belligerent Nuclear power on their Southern flank. Bush should appreciate this it would free up soldiers for his next adventure in war.

[madmark]

8. Our conventional forces should get the hell out of there asap