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Korean Defense Ministry Policy Director Cha Young-gu and U.S. Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Richard Lawless shake hands after agreeing to relocate U.S. troops in Yongsan base to Pyeongtaek and Osan, Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday after the Korea-U.S. talks. /Yonhap
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A legion of 133 lawmakers, most from the Grand National Party (GNP), announced a joint statement on Sunday opposing the relocation of U.S. troops in Yongsan. In addition to the enormous costs needed to fill in the gap left in the nation¡¯s defenses, they said that it would harm national security and the economy. Moreover, the opposing lawmakers said that they would block the proposal in the National Assembly.
In the statement, the lawmakers pointed out that proposal for the withdrawal of troops shows the Roh Administration's anti-American sentiment and the administration's growing insensibility towards national security. The statement also said Roh disregarded public opinion when he concluded that trusting in the benefit of the UN Command¡¯s Seoul presence is an outdated idea, even before trying to negotiate the matter of a relocation.
In response, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Yoon Tai-young said that the relocation of the U.S. base had already been agreed on in the 1990s, and that lawmakers, who were also active during those days and are now opposing to the withdrawal of troops, are contradicting themselves.
The opposition party lawmakers said that although they have not yet taken a stand on the matter, they fear for the country¡¯s security due to the government's anti-American sentiment. The Millennium Democratic Party said that because the relocation of troops would cost almost $3 billion, it would be a huge burden for the citizens. The Uri Party said that nothing much would change whether the military base stays in Yongsan or moves to Pyeongtaek.
(Park Du-sik, dspark@chosun.com )
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