J-10
04-10-2005, 02:20 PM
S. Korea to Play Neutral Role in Asia
Sun, Apr 10, 2005
By BURT HERMAN, Associated Press Writer
SEOUL, South Korea - The alliance that has kept North Korea at bay for more than 50 years is being transformed as a newly confident South Korea seeks to come out from under the U.S. shadow and play a neutral role in the region where it straddles the fault lines of conflict.
But President Roh Moo-hyun's so-called "balancer" doctrine is raising worries at home that South Korea could be putting its security on the line as it faces a potentially nuclear-armed North Korea, and could lose the support of Washington, its key security guarantor.
South Korea's main opposition leader on Friday blasted the new policy that Roh introduced in a speech last month.
"Breaking away from the Korea-U.S. alliance and diplomatically isolating ourselves will be no help to our national interests," Park Geun-hye, chairwoman of the Grand National Party, said in parliament.
"The role of a balancer is possible only when we have the power and capability, and other countries recognize us as a balancer," Park said. "But neither China, Japan, Russia nor even North Korea recognizes us as a balancer."
Speaking to a military academy graduation on March 22, Roh outlined a policy calling for South Korea to "play a balancing role not only on the Korean Peninsula but also for the peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia."
At the same time, he said the new policy would be based on the country's alliance with the United States, which would progress "in tandem with a movement to put a collective security system in place in northeast Asia."
Roh's vision reflects the sentiments of his people. While many are grateful for the U.S. support that enabled them to become a thriving, capitalist democracy, they also see the post-World War II division of their peninsula as the work of outside superpowers and long to be peacefully reunited with their northern compatriots.
Roh came to power in 2002 on a campaign promising a foreign policy independent from the U.S., winning a surprise victory helped by an Internet campaign backed by younger and liberal voters.
The "balancer" idea is also driven by South Korea's economic stake in China, which happens to be North Korea's chief backer.
South Korea has been talking lately about boosting military exchanges with China, and has joined Beijing in opposing a permanent seat for Japan on the U.N. Security Council — something Washington supports.
Seoul sent troops to Iraq, but is in dispute with the U.S. about how much money it should contribute toward keeping U.S. forces on Korean soil. And in general, it complains that the U.S. isn't doing enough to draw North Korea back into talks about its nuclear program.
But Roh's strategy has left experts puzzled about how South Korea can be a "balancer" and at the same time remain aligned with the U.S., which is strongly allied with Japan and is increasingly outspoken against China's military expansion and aggressive stance on Taiwan.
"The alliance relations with the U.S. have served as a very important pillar in safeguarding our defense and security," said Lee Jung-hoon, associate professor of international relations at Yonsei University. "Why do we need to risk that by making such statements?"
South Korean media, which are broadly conservative, have reacted harshly.
"Korea Wants to Have Its Cake and Eat It, Too," the main Chosun Ilbo daily headlined an editorial.
China is an important part of the cake. It was the biggest recipient of South Korean foreign investment for the third straight year in 2004, topping the United States. Last year, China attracted nearly half the total overseas investment by South Korean firms, some $3.6 billion.
Roh's government "is groping for any strategy basically for being in the middle and not wanting to be forced to fight against China," said Peter Beck, director of the North East Asia Project for the International Crisis Group, an advocacy organization that plays a leading role in working to resolve conflicts around the world.
Christopher Hill, outgoing U.S. ambassador to South Korea, acknowledged in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press that the Seoul-Washington alliance is facing a transformation, and said the sides "need to renew our vows."
Both countries insist their alliance is firm, but any Korean statement that it's as strong as ever "doesn't hold water," Beck said.
From (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050410/ap_on_re_as/skorea_playing_middleman_1)
Sun, Apr 10, 2005
By BURT HERMAN, Associated Press Writer
SEOUL, South Korea - The alliance that has kept North Korea at bay for more than 50 years is being transformed as a newly confident South Korea seeks to come out from under the U.S. shadow and play a neutral role in the region where it straddles the fault lines of conflict.
But President Roh Moo-hyun's so-called "balancer" doctrine is raising worries at home that South Korea could be putting its security on the line as it faces a potentially nuclear-armed North Korea, and could lose the support of Washington, its key security guarantor.
South Korea's main opposition leader on Friday blasted the new policy that Roh introduced in a speech last month.
"Breaking away from the Korea-U.S. alliance and diplomatically isolating ourselves will be no help to our national interests," Park Geun-hye, chairwoman of the Grand National Party, said in parliament.
"The role of a balancer is possible only when we have the power and capability, and other countries recognize us as a balancer," Park said. "But neither China, Japan, Russia nor even North Korea recognizes us as a balancer."
Speaking to a military academy graduation on March 22, Roh outlined a policy calling for South Korea to "play a balancing role not only on the Korean Peninsula but also for the peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia."
At the same time, he said the new policy would be based on the country's alliance with the United States, which would progress "in tandem with a movement to put a collective security system in place in northeast Asia."
Roh's vision reflects the sentiments of his people. While many are grateful for the U.S. support that enabled them to become a thriving, capitalist democracy, they also see the post-World War II division of their peninsula as the work of outside superpowers and long to be peacefully reunited with their northern compatriots.
Roh came to power in 2002 on a campaign promising a foreign policy independent from the U.S., winning a surprise victory helped by an Internet campaign backed by younger and liberal voters.
The "balancer" idea is also driven by South Korea's economic stake in China, which happens to be North Korea's chief backer.
South Korea has been talking lately about boosting military exchanges with China, and has joined Beijing in opposing a permanent seat for Japan on the U.N. Security Council — something Washington supports.
Seoul sent troops to Iraq, but is in dispute with the U.S. about how much money it should contribute toward keeping U.S. forces on Korean soil. And in general, it complains that the U.S. isn't doing enough to draw North Korea back into talks about its nuclear program.
But Roh's strategy has left experts puzzled about how South Korea can be a "balancer" and at the same time remain aligned with the U.S., which is strongly allied with Japan and is increasingly outspoken against China's military expansion and aggressive stance on Taiwan.
"The alliance relations with the U.S. have served as a very important pillar in safeguarding our defense and security," said Lee Jung-hoon, associate professor of international relations at Yonsei University. "Why do we need to risk that by making such statements?"
South Korean media, which are broadly conservative, have reacted harshly.
"Korea Wants to Have Its Cake and Eat It, Too," the main Chosun Ilbo daily headlined an editorial.
China is an important part of the cake. It was the biggest recipient of South Korean foreign investment for the third straight year in 2004, topping the United States. Last year, China attracted nearly half the total overseas investment by South Korean firms, some $3.6 billion.
Roh's government "is groping for any strategy basically for being in the middle and not wanting to be forced to fight against China," said Peter Beck, director of the North East Asia Project for the International Crisis Group, an advocacy organization that plays a leading role in working to resolve conflicts around the world.
Christopher Hill, outgoing U.S. ambassador to South Korea, acknowledged in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press that the Seoul-Washington alliance is facing a transformation, and said the sides "need to renew our vows."
Both countries insist their alliance is firm, but any Korean statement that it's as strong as ever "doesn't hold water," Beck said.
From (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050410/ap_on_re_as/skorea_playing_middleman_1)