U.S. military officials, working with Seoul, may be investigating ways to reduce the military’s presence in South Korea, USNews.com reported yesterday (see GSN, Feb. 6).

Senior aides to U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that modern military technology and improved South Korean armed forces allow a potential reduction in U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula.  The move would not signify a weakened alliance between the two countries, USNews.com reported (Mark Mazzetti, USNews.com, Feb. 6).

During talks with South Korean envoy Chyung Dai-chul, Rumsfeld indicated Washington was willing to reduce forces from the peninsula if Seoul wanted, according to a South Korean television report.

U.S. officials said no such move was imminent, however.

“We have no intention of withdrawing forces from Korea.  Our commitment remains strong to continue the stationing of our forces to deter the North’s threat and keep the regional balance,” said Thomas Hubbard, the U.S. ambassador to Seoul.  “The capabilities of the Korean military have increased, and the balance in military aspects of the relationship has changed,” he added (Seo Hyun-jin, Korea Herald, Feb. 7).

Chyung himself denied the reports.

“I am the one who met with Rumsfeld.  He did not mention a withdrawal or reduction of U.S. forces stationed in the South,” Chyung said.  U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney “did not make such a comment, either,” he added (Korea Herald, Feb. 7).

U.S. Can Fight in Two Theaters

Meanwhile, U.S. officials said yesterday that North Korea should not attempt to take advantage of the crisis in Iraq.  The United States will maintain a strong military presence in the region to deter North Korean aggression, the New York Times reported.

“No options have been taken off the table,” said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell during testimony yesterday to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  “The options of sanctions, the option of additional political moves, no military option’s been taken off the table, although we have no intention of attacking North Korea as a nation,” he added (James Dao, New York Times, Feb. 7).

Powell also said the United States is capable of conducting simultaneous military action in Iraq and North Korea, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Senate Democrats, however, criticized the White House approach to the situation.

“North Korea is a grave threat that seems to grow with each day that passes without high-level engagement,” said Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle (S.D.).  “The president should stop downplaying this threat, start paying more attention to it, and immediately engage the North Koreans in direct talks,” he added.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) accused the Bush administration of “designed neglect.”

Powell disagreed with this assessment.

“North Korea is a more direct threat to South Korea and to China and Russia than anyone else,” he said.  “Now, those nations are also encouraging us: ‘Quick.  Quick.  Talk to the North Koreans.’  And we are prepared to engage with the North Koreans and we’re prepared to talk to them.  But what we can’t find ourselves in the position of doing is essentially panicking at their activities and their demands,” Powell added (Sonni Efron, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 7).

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton yesterday said that Washington should offer Pyongyang food, energy and technology to abandon its nuclear aspirations.

“North Korea is a poor country.  They can’t grow their own food.  It’s the most isolated society in the world.  Their only cash crops are bombs and missiles,” Clinton said during an appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live.  “Nobody in the region wants them to have these weapons.  The only reason they had weapons was either to sell them or to be paid not to sell them,” he added.

Clinton said that all regional partners must assure Pyongyang food, energy and security in exchange for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

“I think the diplomatic course is right,” Clinton said.  “The president and the administration have said they want to handle it diplomatically, but I think you have to be firm in public and absolutely brutal in private.  You cannot let them become a nuclear arsenal because the pressure on them to sell these bombs will be overwhelming.  They have no other way to make money,” he added (Agence France-Presse, Feb. 7).

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