US President George W. Bush’s visit to the three countries of Northeast Asia, particularly Korea, is a serious and important one in the context of the current situation on the Korean peninsula. In the wake of the terrorism of September 11th, the US is pursuing fundamental changes in global strategy, including the way it looks at and deals with North Korea, but here in the South there has yet to be popular agreement about these changes in the US’s approach. The fact is that there has never been the kinds debate about North Korea policy here and abroad prior to the visit of any other American president, and it means Bush’s visit is of more delicate importance.

Whether the Kim Dae-jung government’s views of and policies towards North Korea are right or wrong, they differ considerably from a changed US, one that calls the North part of an “axis of evil,” and Bush’s visit comes at a time when these differences are at the forefront. Our hope is that the visit will be an opportunity to go beyond the concrete work of fine-tuning policy, and will help in the formulating of a common consensus on a fundamental approach to the situation on the Korean peninsula.

We would ask that during his short time here, President Bush would seek to directly experience as much of the situation in Korea and the voices of the Korean people as possible, and that he would then continue to supplement and perfect his policies for dealing with the North. The current government, for its part, should not try only to convince the Americans of its own position. It should afford broad consideration to a changed US global strategy and the US position, and should give ear to American concerns as it carries out policy. In particular, the current government should reflect deeply on the US’s position on the true nature and character of the North Korean regime.

It would be safe to say that the US and Korean governments are already plenty aware of their differences on North Korea. Despite criticism in the press in each of the countries on his tour, President Bush has repeated his stance on the North Korean regime. This summit, therefore, should not be a time to confirm that there are differences or to amplify them. Instead it should be time when these leaders sit face to face and affirm the importance of honest cooperation and productive role sharing. It will be important for both sides to maintain insightful, open minds as they look at the present and future of North Korea and the peninsula.

(February 18, 2002)