In a keynote speech at a seminar sponsored by the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, the Heritage Foundation, and the Korea-US Exchange Council, LaPorte noted it was necessary to study and review the two countries' Mutual Defense Treaty concluded in 1953. He said the basics of the MDT; the strengthening of a combined defense, respect of the United Nations peaceful objectives, deterring armed provocation, the deployment of US forces on and around the peninsula, and a continued pledge by the US to maintain Korea's national security remained in force to this day. This is the first time for a USFK commander to comment on a review of the alliance and MDT.

LaPorte said last year the defense ministers of the two countries ordered a study on new operational procedures and concepts for the alliance, namely actively using improved and advanced military technology, while utilizing lessons from other theaters of engagement.

Analysts say that this indicates original operational plans, calling for the use of large numbers of troops, will be replaced by ones using smaller forces with high technology weaponry. They also add that the speech hinted that discussions to be held in April will include the reduction and redeployment of the USFK, overall force control in war time, and possible Status of Forces Agreement.

LaPorte's speech was followed by presentations made by Robert Einhorn, senior advisor of the US Center For Strategic & International Studies (CSIS); Peter Brooks, director of the Asian Institute for the Heritage Foundation; Scott Snider, Korean representative of the US Asian Foundation; Park Yong-ok, former vice-minister of defense; Paik Jong-cheon, director of the Sejong Research Institute; and Kim Chang-su, a researcher at the KIDA. The following are the main points from their presentations:

General Leon J. Laporte

The Republic of Korea is not faced with a crisis, but a challenge that appeared with the growth of democracy. President-elect Roh Mu-hyun will come face to face with many challenges at the start of his term. For the present, the world will tune in to his words and make an effort to find ways to adapt.

The North Korean nuclear problem must be solved through multilateral talks that include Korea, China, Japan, and Russia instead of bilateral talks between the US and North Korea. The alliance between South Korea and the US must be revised to make it stronger. I will do my best to develop the alliance to be an equal one.

On December 5 last year, Minister Lee Jun, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and I agreed that we must think of changes in the alliance. Ministers of both countries made strategic decisions to develop new tactical ideas for operations. The interests of the two countries may not be exactly the same, but we can conciliate.

Robert J. Einhorn

Many Koreans think that North Korea’s nuclear weapons will not be a direct threat to South Korea. However, Koreans must know that North and South relations cannot progress on a separate level.

In order to solve nuclear problems, the US and South Korea must first clearly demand that the North Korean government choose between nuclear weapons and existence. Second, the US and South Korea must make perfect military preparations. Military actions are the last resort, yet must not be excluded from the choices on the table. Third, a multilateral negotiating channel with North Korea must be made. A multilateral frame should be prepared for the participation of China, Russia, and Japan.

Talks between the US and the North must be made within the framework. Fourth, threatening acts must stop while negotiations take place. North Korea announced that it will not handle the discarded fuel rods. We must assist the IAEA to reseal the facilities. The US must promise against military movements against the Yeongbyeon nuclear facilities as long as the rods remain sealed. The US should also declare that it will not pursue economic sanctions through the UN.

Park Yong-Ok

North Korea is the only country that has withdrawn from the NPT two times. The North Korean nuclear situation has two scenarios according to Pyongyang’s choice. The first is a model of the Republic of South Africa. North Korea will announce abandonment of nuclear weapons, accept full investigation, and in return, the U.S. will fulfill North Korea's request.

The other model is Iraq. Currently in South Korea, the mass sentiment puts national mutual assistance before international assistance. More regard the US as the foundation of the problem instead of thinking critically about North Korea's nuclear program. We must realize that unification of the Korean peninsula cannot be accomplished without international society's trust.

The Korean government must make further efforts to persuade the public from a long-term national interest point of view. Furthermore, both the Korean and US governments should show more interest in the threats of North Korea’s biological and chemical weapons.

Peter Brooks For future development of relations between the two countries, the two governments should heed the following four points. First, both governments should not scar the other in order to rationalize its country's position even if they perform different policies towards North Korea. Disputes on policies should be made discreetly, not through the media.

Second, the military must be improved in effectiveness, promptness, and flexibility. Soon, the Korean peninsula will need fewer US troops. Third, we must cooperate with Japan, China, and Russia and lastly, we must search for alternative plans that elevate our skills to deter war, such as missile defense plans.

Kim Chang-su As part of readjusting Korea-US relations, there must be several prerequisites before decreasing troops, or redeployments. First, the skill of the Korean military must develop. Also, actual regulations in military expenditure must be done, or else, North Korea may assume that US forces are withdrawing because of anti US sentiment.

Between North Korea and the US, both a comprehensive approach and package settlement must be pursued together. We must prepare for the level just before strategy regulation rights at war are retuned as well as the CODA to be prepared for actual operations.

Scott Snider Surrounding countries will welcome improvements in relations between North and South Korea, but Pyongyang can only receive support if it changes North Korea so that it meets the demands of the global society. The other way around, if South Korea's standards fail to help North Korea or choose North Korea's methods, will result in isolation.

Baik Jong-cheon Changes in the relation between the US and Korea must be pursued jointly with changes in military relations between North and South Korea, especially easing military tension. Talks must take place to carry out a ‘North-South Basic Agreement,’ which is needed to strengthen the foundation of security guarantee. Also, a security system in the Northeast Asia region must be established.

(Yoo Yong-won, kysu@chosun.com )