By Colin Powell recently gave a speech to students at Korea University and he had some critical things to say about the Sunshine Policy:
He argued that North Korea “really does not have a system that can tolerate changes or modifications to give its people a better life. They have to be in a state of hostility with South Korea or with the United States. You just have to understand that.”
He said the principal goal of North Korean leader Kim Jung-il is to “stay in power and preserve the regime as it is.”
“It is one of the few countries left in the world that has that kind of attitude. But sooner or later, Chairman Kim will pass on. I don’t know what would come after him. I think that each of your government coming in has to make a judgment on how firm it is going to be with in respect to North Koreans. South Koreans should say, we are not going to keep giving (to) you without getting anything in return. So I think you have to be firm with North Koreans.” [Korea Times]
General Powell is a little late in his criticisms of the Sunshine Policy because it was pretty much declared dead by Koreans themselves back in January and the landslide election wins for President Lee Myung-bak and his conservative party in the national assembly only confirm this. The current tensions between the South Korean government and North Korea only confirms that the new Korean government is taking a harder line with North Korea over both their human rights record and the nuclear dispute.
Here is something that General Powell stated that I totally agree with:
He also defended the U.S. military presence in the region, while adding that if South Koreans don’t want it, "we will go home.”
“If the Korean people want us here, we are here. If they don’t want us here, we will go home.”
And we will, just ask the Philippines.
11:14 pm on April 11th, 2008 1
It took him awhile, but it seems Powell finally got on board (what used to be) President Bush's bandwagon on the nature of the regime in Pyongyang.
Which just made me realize what incredible irony we are seeing these days:
Powell's tenure at the State Department got off to a really bad start when President Bush very undiplomatically insulted visiting head of state Kim Dae Jung by distancing the US from the Sunshine Policy and telling the truth about the nature of Kim Jong Il's kingdom. Powell had just spoken in a very positive manner about Kim Dae Jung's NK policy – so Bush's words were a smack down of both Kim and him.
Now, 10 years later, the Bush administration has Christopher Hill desperately trying to keep the Sunshine alive and Powell is in Seoul telling South Koreans change in the North is impossible under current leadership.
Amazing….
1:42 am on April 12th, 2008 2
funny how politics work
powell is looking for work in any of the upcoming administations
ultimately his comments are worthless at this point
as for the troops will leave if korea wants them to is spot on however in the PI i think mt. pinutabo had a little to do with the troops getting out as well and this event just piled on the political situation made it an easy decision for all
2:31 am on April 12th, 2008 3
GI,
You mentioned the pullout from the Philippines and it was because the government asked us to leave that we left (plus Clark and Subic were devastated by Mount Pinatubo with a major typhoon on it's heels, but that was in the aftermath) but there's also the consideration of China in the Korea equation that was not really relative to our presence in the Philippines. Granted, we did lose a strong foothold in southeast Asia by giving up the bases here but abandoning our position on the Korean peninsula brings with it a bit more of a problematic situation with China rattling it saber more and more these days economically and militarily.
If there was a grassroots movement to get us out of Korea, I think that we would leave but it would have to be a pretty clear cut opinion by a majority of the Korean people that would force us out. Balance of power in northeast Asia, especially as it relates to China and it's growing economic and thereby military power, will be the key as to what we do in Korea. We didn't abandon our position in Germany when the USSR was on the other side of the wall and I don't think we'll abandon our position in Korea as long as China remains a concern.
Tim in Angeles sendzzzzzzzzzzz
3:24 am on April 12th, 2008 4
Actually…the Philippines asked us to leave only after we would not agree to the $1.2 billion annual rental fee that they were trying to extort from us…just for Subic.
Filipinos love to play up the "We kicked the U.S. bases out" angle, but in reality their sovereignity had noting to do with it…it was all about $$$.
Now ask the Philippines today if they want the U.S. bases back. The noisy Left will obviously say NO, but many Filipinos would love for the U.S. military to come back here, thus they try & keep the rumor of the "GenSan" base alive.
The Philippines got what they wanted…a country w/o a permanent U.S. presence & they are now regretting the day.
5:04 am on April 12th, 2008 5
"Balance of power in northeast Asia, especially as it relates to China and it’s growing economic and thereby military power, will be the key as to what we do in Korea. We didn’t abandon our position in Germany when the USSR was on the other side of the wall and I don’t think we’ll abandon our position in Korea as long as China remains a concern."
You just nicely summed up why the US military presence in South Korea is for the mutual benefit of both.
A lot of ignorant chimps blindly slander South Koreans, farting their diarreah that they are protecting the 'ungrateful' South Koreans from being bombarded by half-starving to death North Korean military.
But the REAL FACT is that the US direly need South Korea as their military posting ground for monitoring the threats of China. You simply won't find other countries allowing the US soldiers gettin into their tehome rritory and say 'Hey GIs.. we welcome you to our home~'.
You can visit this link which I blabbered a bit about Korea's changing position with the US and Japan, mostly due to China's threat.
http://rokdrop.com/2008/04/07/korean-army-cadets-…
9:21 am on April 12th, 2008 6
I don't buy the idea that being in Korea is a must for our East Asian policy. Being in Japan is enough, and getting out of Korea puts us in a safer position. IF things went bad with China, I'd much rather not have troops with a toe-hold on the Asian mainland. In a defensive conflict, I'd much rather be on the islands.
But, the biggest reason we need to get out of South Korea is how easily it puts us at easy striking distance when North Korea collapses.
In short, I'll feel a hell of a lot better about American security when we do away with the tripwire in South Korea than I ever will about some hypothetical doomsday scenerio against a superpower China.
9:43 am on April 12th, 2008 7
"IF things went bad with China, I’d much rather not have troops with a toe-hold on the Asian mainland. In a defensive conflict, I’d much rather be on the islands"
Actaully, north Korea may invite China in at some point. The Koreans have always been part of the Chinese empire and should be again in the future.
11:02 am on April 12th, 2008 8
#1: How is Hill desperately trying to keep the Sunshine Policy alive? The Sunshine Policy is a South Korean policy of unconditional aid. Hill is trying to get the DPRK to live up to their agreement; there's nothing unconditional about that.
11:30 am on April 12th, 2008 9
DELETED FOR PERSONAL ATTACK
Ed. Note – You can make your point with out using personal attacks. Your IP has been added to the spam que.
8:43 am on April 13th, 2008 10
I agree with usinkorea … the US doesn't need to be in Korea to counter China – being in Japan is good enough.
Also, you need to consider that Korea is very sensitive to the concept of the US conducting expeditionary operations from Korea into East Asian hot spots. In fact, I contend that Korea would refuse air and sea rights for US forces traveling to counter any Chinese aggression outside of Korea. So why bother staying in Korea?
11:20 am on April 13th, 2008 11
You could also say something similar about the Sunshiners in South Korea. I am sure they would argue that what they were offering Pyongyang was not "unconditional".
And what I see Hill having done is a phased retreat again and again and again.
The US, with Hill as the head spokesman, went into the "6 party talks" at a time when it seemed clear the slow process of putting pressure on the regime was finally working out. Then Agreed Framework 2.0 was cut and undid most or all of that — without gaining much compliance. And just this week, we got word the bug out of the US team in dealing with Pyongyang is going to fall back even further.
2:37 pm on April 14th, 2008 12
[...] english.people.com.cn/200207/05/eng20020705_99192…. [Found on Yahoo! Search, Ask.com] 5. Colin Powell Criticizes Sunshine Policy So I think you have to be firm with North Koreans.? [Korea Times]. General Powell is a little [...]