War of words over Korean peace treaty

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WASHINGTON - South Korea and the United States are colliding on what has emerged as one of the more partisan issues in their already strained relations.

The question is whether to follow the lead of North Korea and demand a peace treaty to replace the armistice that ended the Korean War in July 1953. Advocates say support for a treaty would be a relatively harmless gesture that would soften up the intransigent North Korean regime; critics believe it would give North Korean negotiators an easy opportunity to press their long-standing demand for withdrawal of all US troops from the South.

The issue has neo-conservatives and liberals battling in Washington while South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun crashes ahead with the notion of the peace treaty as the top talking point in his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-il early next month in Pyongyang.

Victor Cha, former Asia director of the National Security Council, perceives "a great deal of momentum" toward relations between Washington and Pyongyang but says the Democratic People's Republic of Korea first has to make good on its promises.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/II15Dg01.html