I sometimes wonder if President Roh really wants to improve relations with the US? Read this good article from Kim Dae Joong in the Chosun for some good analysis of recent remarks the president made in Los Angeles. Here is an exerpt of what he had to say:

“President Roh Moo-hyun’s remarks in Los Angeles, rationalizing the “self-defensive nature” of North Korea’s nuclear development program and positively opposing an exercise of force by the United States contain many diplomatic problems. Nothing much new in what he said. Excepting his statement that the “assertion that North Korea’s nuclear capabilities are a deterrence safeguarding the Pyongyang regime is fairly rational,” the remarks are what the incumbent administration has mentioned through various channels. Nevertheless, Roh’s remarks in Los Angeles are rousing much repercussion because he delivered the speech toward the new American leadership in the United States with his summit meeting with re-elected U.S. President Bush just several days away in a carefully thought-out manner.

The contents of his remarks may be subject to criticism and debate, but they are worthy of remaining as they are because they are his persistent logic and an aspect of his philosophy. Even if they were his convictions, however, diplomatic commonsense and courtesy call for considering the timing and venue of the statements and prevailing conditions and atmosphere. If you say everything you want to say before meeting your counterpart, why do you hold a meeting? It suffices for each side to issue its statement; there is no need to meet each other spending so much expenses and sparing so precious time. If either side is embarrassed or blushed by utterances and actions intended to control the other side, furthermore, desisting from such summit diplomacy would be beneficial to the country.”

In response to President Roh’s assertions the USFK commander General LaPorte as reported by the Joongang Ilbo said,

“Responding yesterday to President Roh Moo-hyun’s recent remarks that he understood North Korea’s claim of self-defense in its pursuit of nuclear arms, General Leon LaPorte, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, said that proliferation of nuclear materials by Pyeongyang would represent an international catastrophe.

“An additional concern the international community shares is that North Korea, in its desire for hard currency, would sell weapons-grade plutonium to some terrorist organizations,” General LaPorte told a forum held yesterday by the South Korean Air Force Academy in Seoul. “And that would be disastrous for the world.”

Mr. Roh said in a speech in Los Angeles on Nov. 12 that “the North Koreans maintain that their nuclear weapons and missiles constitute a means of safeguarding security by deterring threats from the outside. By and large it is hard to believe what the North Koreans say, but their claim in this matter is understandable considering the environment they live in.”

Viewed by the Bush administration as a potential proliferator of weapons of mass destruction, North Korea is estimated by intelligence agencies to have made enough weapons-grade nuclear material to construct as many as nine bombs.

General LaPorte countered Mr. Roh’s argument on the nuclear crisis, saying, “Clearly, they have an opportunity to harvest plutonium from the enrichment rods. Clearly, no one truly understands what is the intent. From a military standpoint, they do have a capability we must address.”
Reiterating the U.S. assessment of the threat, the general said, “North Korea is a known proliferator of missiles, missile technology and other military hardware.”

North Korea has said it had no choice but to develop nuclear arms in order to deter the United States. Pyeongyang says that before it will resume the six-nation negotiations, Washington must end its hostile policies.

By the way General LaPorte just this week had his tour extended for a third year here in Korea which could be an indication that the Pentagon wants to make sure the USFK has good continuity for the upcoming year with the uncertainy of the North Korean nuclear program hanging over everyone’s heads.