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Japan¡¯s Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi reportedly had harsh words for Korea during a recent visit of Korean lawmakers. He said Seoul had been neglecting its alliance with Washington although unity between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan was key to solving the North Korean nuclear dispute. He told the members of the National Assembly's Defense Committee that Tokyo ¡°would not accept¡± a new role Korea sees for itself as a power balancer in Northeast Asia. Seoul was reportedly told of Yachi's statements by its embassy in Tokyo.
The lawmakers quoted Yachi as saying, "The U.S. and Japan are sharing intelligence about the North Korean nuclear issue, but because the U.S. does not trust South Korea, it's hard for Tokyo to share the intelligence it has gathered about [the matter] with Seoul." The vice minister reportedly used frank language to criticize South Korea.
It was Yachi¡¯s interpretation that in the nuclear dispute, ¡°the U.S. and Japan are on the right side, and China and North Korea are on the left side, while it seems South Korea is closer to the Chinese and North Korean side." He said Japan's position on the dispute was ¡°that it can't wait forever.¡± He warned if North Korea conducts a nuclear test, Tokyo would cut food aid and raise ¡°in earnest¡± the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang.
The committee members also met with Vice Admiral Gary Roughead of U.S. Pacific Command, who equally had reservations about a balancing role for Korea, asking where Seoul¡¯s alliance with Washington came into the equation. Roughead was also reportedly miffed that the Cheong Wa Dae National Security Council pulped a joint military plan for contingencies including natural disasters and mass defections in North Korea dubbed OPLAN 5029.
The committee delegation visited Tokyo, Washington and U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii from May 6. It consisted of Yoo Jay-kun (Uri Party and committee head), Cho Sung-tae (Uri), Kim Myung-ja (Uri), Park Jin (Grand National Party) and Song Young-sun (GNP).
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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