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When President Roh Moo-hyun published his "letter to the people" saying Korea can no longer tolerate Japanese attempts to establish hegemony and warned of a "diplomatic war" between the two countries, Foreign and Trade Ministry officials were short on answers about the background to the remarks - apparently because they had not been warned.
The Japanese press noted that the letter is full of language no diplomat would have used, and concluded, "It is not the Foreign Ministry but the National Security Council that briefs President Roh about the state of Korea-Japan relations."
It is possible to imagine a case of such delicacy and consequence that revealing any details in advance beyond the president's closest circle of aides would endanger national security. This was not such a case.
Nonetheless the chief executive bypassed the Foreign Ministry, probably because he judged that its rather traditional views would get in the way of his ambition to declare diplomatic war on Japan. It is the president's right, of course, to make the final decision based on his conviction if the Foreign Ministry's views do not accord with his.
But it is hardly too much to ask that the president should in the early stage of formulating a policy listen closely to differing opinions and make sure there is nothing he may have overlooked.
The diplomatic war the president has declared is quite a different order of thing from the battles he has fought in domestic politics so many times. But Roh appears determined to wage the one as he has waged the others, through shock and awe.
A diplomatic war, unfortunately, can only be won if we develop messages that can convince the international community, and if we gain recognition of our legitimacy over Japan's by conveying the messages in such language and by such means as are accepted international currency. If he really wants to win this fight, Roh needs to mobilize the Republic of Korea's diplomatic forces even if their views differ from his.
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