Seminar Finds Not All Is Well in Korea-U.S. Alliance Chosun Ilbo Seminar Tackles Korea-U.S. Alliance The 'Roh Moo-hyun Doctrine' Reviewed Ban, Rice Compromise on USFK ‘Strategic Flexibility’ An End to Korea-U.S. Wangling Over Strategic Flexibility?

During a seminar titled “Prospects for U.S. Policy toward the Korean Peninsula - in the Second Bush Administration”, co-sponsored by the Chosun Ilbo in Washington on Wednesday, U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Evans Revere said strategic flexibility was not a one-way street since it would also in an emergency allow the U.S. to move forces from elsewhere in the region to the Korean Peninsula to honor its security commitments. That suggests Korea would be well advised to embrace the concept.

But President Roh Moo-hyun in March resisted the idea, saying Korea would not become embroiled in conflicts in Northeast Asia against its will. “No matter what the case, this is a firm principle on which the country cannot yield.”

The two statements are not necessarily contradictory. Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said, “As an ally, we respect 'strategic flexibility' resulting from changes in U.S. global military strategy. Our position is that we mustn’t be embroiled in Northeast Asian conflicts against our will.”

Revere is a Korean affairs official who knows the position of the Korean government on this matter well, yet he insisted publicly that Korea needs to accept the altered role for the USFK. Thus if the Korean government’s position really is at loggerheads accord with U.S. views, serious problems could arise, one scenario being that the U.S. could review the need for a military presence on the Korean Peninsula if it clashes with Washington’s strategic needs. Some predict even more extreme results if the matter is not sorted out.

But a Korean government official offered the familiar reassurance that negotiations “are running smoothly, and a plan satisfactory to both sides will be announced within the year.” He added, “People say a fissure may erupt in the Korea-U.S. alliance over the strategic flexibility problem, but time will tell.”

(englishnews@chosun.com )