The Wall Street Journal quoted Rumsfeld as saying that as Korea changes, so does the nature of the relationship between the two countries. He said Washington’s promise to protect South Korea stands, but it will perform in a supportive capacity. The secretary said South Korea was no longer an impoverished, war-ravaged country dependent on support from Western nations but eager to take a more active role in its own defense, including assuming its own independent posture and building up a substantial fighting force. Rumsfeld said Seoul also assumed a greater responsibility in other regions through deployment of troops to Afghanistan and Iraq.

(englishnews@chosun.com )