South Korea government warns North Korea to disarm

While South Korea's growing economic clout influences its relationship with the United States, security remains its top concern, the South Korean ambassador to the United States, Lee Tae-sik, said yesterday afternoon during a lecture in Dodds Auditorium.

"Previously, our two countries' relationship has been dominated by a security relationship — that is, a military relationship," he said.

During the lecture — titled "The North Korean Nuclear Issue and the Future of the U.S.-South Korean Alliance Relationship" — Lee discussed the changing dynamics of Korean-American relations. Lee, who became ambassador to the United States in 2005, noted that South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean President Kim Jong-il are currently in discussions about possible peace terms.

"North Korea agreed to disable the key nuclear facilities which have been in operation for the past several years," Lee said, referring to an agreement at the six-party talks this week, the final details of which are expected to be announced shortly.

This is only the second time that the top leaders of both countries have met face-to-face.

Lee said the recent round of negotiations with North Korea, which concluded two days ago in Beijing, have "achieved remarkable success."

Meanwhile, economic ties between South Korea and the United States have been strengthened by recently concluded free trade talks between the two countries, Lee said. He added that the agreement will form "the third-largest free trade area in the world, after the European Union and NAFTA."

"Still, this does not mean that our work is done," he said. "We are working on a number of points for a peaceful and prosperous future."

But the danger presented by North Korea prevents the United States and South Korea from focusing solely on cultivating economic relations, Lee noted. "The biggest challenge to our relationship remains North Korea," he said, describing the threat posed by that nation as "part and parcel" of the relationship between the United States and South Korea.

He added that, should North Korea become a nuclear power, South Korea would be the first nation to suffer the potential consequences. "We want North Korea denuclearized, full stop," Lee said.

While both South Korea and the United States advocate North Korea's disarmament, Lee said his country's relationship with the United States has been strained by South Korea's willingness to engage in commerce with its northern neighbor.

The United States has criticized this decision, arguing that trade between South and North Korea will reduce leverage against Kim Jong-il's government.

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Lee defended his government's position, arguing that by exporting rice and other goods to the north, South Korea is letting North Korean citizens know that it cares about them.

The ambassador also reiterated that, despite the tension over trade with North Korea, South Korea and the United States remain united in their overall goal.

Lee closed his talk by saying the continued support of the American people is vital to the U.S.-South Korean relationship. "Whatever challenges we have had in the past, we have successfully overcome," he said. "We need you."

The talk was sponsored by the Wilson School and the Project on Science and Global Security.