Posted on 08/18/2006 6:48:21 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Roh Predicts Tough Talks With Bush
By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun has expressed his frustration about the deadlocked ties between North Korea and the United States, saying that he feels it is almost impossible to persuade President George W. Bush to mend fences.
``I don’t think I can persuade the United States any more. I expect it would also be tough for me to persuade Bush to normalize relations with Pyongyang in the next month’s summit,’’ he was quoted as telling senior journalists in a meeting at Chong Wa Dae last Sunday. ``But President Bush likes me personally. I heard about that much indirectly.’’
His comments were made during the ``off-the-record’’ session with a few senior journalists. However, a daily reported them yesterday after an apparent leakage of a shorthand note.
In the two-and-a-half-hour talks, Roh presented his frank opinions on a variety of pending state issues while setting forth his deep-seated sentiments as the head of state, who has only one and a half years left in office.
He expressed unpleasant feelings about a few conservative newspapers, which he said have used the recent controversy over the transfer of wartime military command as an item to attack his administration.
``It has already been agreed upon between the allies,’’ he said. ``Concerns raised about our deterrence against North Korea are groundless. We need the operational control and there would be no problem even after we get it back from the U.S.’’
He cited a possible emergency situation in North Korea like a sudden collapse of the Kim Jong-il regime, in which South Korea would remain helpless due to lack of the operational control.
``We always try to make a right judgment on North Korea. But, we sometimes see our seemingly reasonable analysis going wide of the mark,’’ said Roh, in an apparent reference to the North’s missile tests on July 4.
Roh also showed his deep confidence in Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok. ``We do not have any unofficial channel with Pyongyang,’’ Roh said. ``Minister Lee is the most reliable channel that the North could contact and talk with.’’
He was quoted as having said that China appears not to look at North Korea’s nuclear development program in a serious manner as Pyongyang’s nuclear technology is not sophisticated.
He once again displayed confidence that the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement would be a choice for Korea to be a winner in global competition.
Roh also displayed his agony about domestic situations. ``I had paid little attention to my approval ratings but now I sometimes do,’’ he said. ``I would just try to complete the pre-announced policies rather than seeking new reform policies during my tenure.’’
He even talked about a lame duck situation, though he did not use the term. ``Now my term of office is nearing an end,’’ he said. ``People don’t really listen to me. Even the heads of public enterprises do not listen to me.’’
But he also showed his resolve not to be a lame duck. ``I have never swayed any power apparatus. Different from those of my predecessors, my last days would not be marred by large-scale scandals involving the presidential families,’’ he said. ``I bet I will go to the last with a grip on the state affairs.’’
Ping!
RUH-ROH!!!!!............
What is it with this Surrender NOW Mindset everywhere in the world a Leftist is in charge?
Once the withdrawal is complete the last impediment to peaceful reunification of the Koreas will no longer exist.
Problem solved!
The Conservative anti communist we get in office next year will FINALLY be somebody we can WORK WITH.
Amen !!!
Our only strong ally in the region, Japan, would go bonkers. It would damage that relationship immeasurably. OTOH, Our troops should be repositioned to the south of the Peninsula. Let the SK's take the initial hit in the battle. We can stand as reserves and air support.
"What is it with this Surrender NOW Mindset everywhere in the world a Leftist is in charge?"
They aren't surrendering. They are participating in the destruction of Democracy in favor of totalitarian regimes that they believe they will become a part of.
What they fail to realize is that in a historical sense, they will be the first ones executed by the new regime.
From Guam.
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