United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated Tuesday he disagreed that ill will toward US troops stationed in South Korea was escalating. Secretary Rumsfeld told a press conference that the the recent aggravation of anti-Americanism has not made the diplomatic approach to the North Korea nuclear problem difficult.

He added that South Korea has recently had an election and people are free to express their opinions in a free country. Rumsfeld also noted that demonstrations by a minority do not represent the standpoint of the whole nation.

The secretary also ssaid the US will be working closely with South Korea's new administration, adding President-elect Roh Moo-hyun has expressed his willingness to meet with US officials in order to discuss Korea-US relations. Rumsfeld emphasized that the South Korea-US relationship is satisfactory and there is no need to be alarmed by a minority of protestors on the streets.

(Kang In-sun, insun@chosun.com )