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S.Korea's Kim Warns U.S. Over Girls' Deaths
Reuters ^ | Dec 10, 2002 | Paul Eckert

Posted on 12/10/2002 7:48:59 AM PST by Black Powder

SEOUL (Reuters) - A U.S. envoy visiting South Korea (news - web sites) Tuesday to canvass support for Washington's policy on Iraq was warned by Seoul that ties could be hurt by a furor over two girls killed in an accident involving a U.S. military vehicle.

President Kim Dae-Jung (news - web sites) told visiting Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that the treaty governing the legal status of U.S. troops in South Korea, one of Washington's closest military allies in Asia, may need to be modified because of the row.

"Our people feel great shock and sadness at the tragic deaths of the middle school girls," the presidential Blue House quoted Kim as telling Armitage.

"But both countries must take prudent measures to prevent this incident from having a negative impact on the foundation of Korea-U.S. relations," Kim said.

He also repeated a call for modifying the Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the status of the 37,000 U.S. troops in the country.

Armitage conveyed to Kim the United States' "profound apology" over the accident and later told reporters Washington took Seoul's sentiment "very seriously."

"We have to do our absolute best to be seen as the best possible partners for our friends in Korea," Armitage said.

The girls, both teenagers, were crushed to death in June but last month's court martial acquittal of the two U.S. soldiers involved re-ignited anti-American sentiment.

And with a December 19 presidential vote looming, the presence and legal status of U.S. troops in South Korea have become an emotive election issue -- overshadowing problems such as North Korea (news - web sites)'s nuclear arms program.

"ARROGANT AND IGNORANT BUSH"

Activists used the visit by Armitage, part of a four-nation Asian tour, as a fresh focus for anti-American protests.

A small group gathered outside the U.S. embassy before Armitage's arrival in Seoul and demanded an apology for the girls' deaths and said they opposed U.S. "world hegemonism."

"Oppose the war on Iraq! End U.S. hostility toward North Korea! Condemn the Armitage visit!" shouted the protesters.

Later, a group of about 50 activists that included the fathers of the dead girls gathered at the U.S. embassy to demand another apology from President Bush (news - web sites) following his statement of regret to the girls' families last month.

"If we put our people's strength together, the day will come when the arrogant and ignorant Bush apologizes, kneeling down in front of our people," said one of the fathers, Shim Soo-bo.

Armitage, who was in Tokyo Monday, met Kim and South Korea's foreign and defense ministers. His trip will also take him to Beijing and Canberra.

IRAQ, NORTH KOREA

Kim told the U.S. envoy that as a U.S. ally, South Korea would "positively assist" American efforts to disarm Iraq. He did not elaborate on what help would come from Seoul, which played minor supportive roles in the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites) and in Afghanistan (news - web sites).

But he also said the protests over the girls' deaths could weaken the country's 50-year-old security alliance with the United States.

Angry that no one was found criminally responsible for the deaths, many South Koreans want the Status of Forces Agreement altered to allow local authorities to prosecute cases involving U.S. troops on duty.

Some activists have seized on the case to press for a withdrawal of U.S. troops, based in South Korea under an alliance dating back to the start of the Korean War in 1950.

During his talks, Armitage also discussed North Korea, which Bush has branded part of an "axis of evil" with Iraq and Iran.

Washington says Pyongyang has admitted to pursuing a nuclear arms program, in violation of a 1994 non-proliferation pact.

Kim said that Seoul, Washington and Tokyo should strengthen diplomatic efforts with the European Union (news - web sites), Russia and China to "make North Korea swiftly abandon its nuclear plans."

Armitage said in Tokyo Monday that President Bush was willing to be patient with Iraq but Baghdad would be disarmed eventually if it did not disarm itself.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: southkorea
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1 posted on 12/10/2002 7:48:59 AM PST by Black Powder
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To: Black Powder
Gezz these people have no clue

without the US they would be North Korea

2 posted on 12/10/2002 7:53:47 AM PST by scooby321
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To: Black Powder
"Oppose the war on Iraq! End U.S. hostility toward North Korea! Condemn the Armitage visit!" shouted the protesters.

"Send the protesters to North Korea!" shouted Imal.

The death of the girls is tragic, but the animosity displayed by these protesters reveals a degree of ignorance that is stunning, and begs for a dose of bitter reality.

I'm sure Kim Jong Il is more than happy to give it to them.

3 posted on 12/10/2002 7:54:19 AM PST by Imal
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To: Black Powder
A suggestion... Let's pull our troops out of South Korea, Japan, Bosnia, Haiti, Europe and anywhere else they are playing traffic cop for the world and put them on our borders. The world needs to see that FReedom is not free... and also how much the US does for each and every one of the countryie, whether they want to admit it or not. The proof is in the pudding pull-out.

...adjusts my flame gear.. tightens the bunker hatches..
4 posted on 12/10/2002 7:54:47 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: Black Powder
South Korea does not deserve any of our troops. Let them have peace at any cost.
5 posted on 12/10/2002 7:55:36 AM PST by bulldogs
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countryie=countries
6 posted on 12/10/2002 7:55:39 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: Black Powder
That does it.

Pull out the US troops from S. Korea.

Tell the N.Koreans - "we support your effort to unify the country" and then let the damn S.Korean's starve just like their brethern in the north.

Screw 'em.

7 posted on 12/10/2002 7:55:55 AM PST by PokeyJoe
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To: scooby321
I'd love to see the reaction in Korea if we said we were leaving...
8 posted on 12/10/2002 7:56:05 AM PST by ECM
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To: PokeyJoe
I'm climbing in the fighting hole with NormsRevenge with my all-weather gear.
9 posted on 12/10/2002 7:56:55 AM PST by PokeyJoe
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To: ECM
After almost 60 years, maybe its time to come home.
10 posted on 12/10/2002 7:59:15 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: NormsRevenge
I can't see any reason for you to be flamed. While I think our troops still have work to do on the Korean peninsula I can see no reason to have US troops anywhere in Europe.

I get so tired of seeing US officials apologizing for defending these countries. We should use Rush's suggestion of a S#!* list for countries. Take them off the dole until they grovel for a while.

11 posted on 12/10/2002 7:59:37 AM PST by Straight Vermonter
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To: Black Powder
We have been there 52 long years, far too long. Tell them we are pulling out within one year. Listen to them scream, then pull out.
12 posted on 12/10/2002 8:00:12 AM PST by cynicom
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To: Straight Vermonter
. . . I can see no reason to have US troops anywhere in Europe.

The upcoming war with Iraq is one reason.

13 posted on 12/10/2002 8:01:52 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Black Powder
Sorry, but it's not like we intended to stop the jobs of South Koreans here, so why do they want to stop our jobs? I don't get it. These people are lunatics.
14 posted on 12/10/2002 8:02:04 AM PST by lavaroise
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To: Black Powder

I say, let North Korea have them.

15 posted on 12/10/2002 8:02:17 AM PST by rintense
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To: Black Powder
Has anyone read a news account with the details of this incident? If so I'd love to read it. I would think with all the pressure being brought on our Military and Government by the communist element in S. Korea, that if the GI's driving the truck were in anyway at fault they would have been found guilty of something at their court martial. Screw the S.Koreans and the water buffalo they rode in on.
16 posted on 12/10/2002 8:03:05 AM PST by MCRD
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To: ECM
Yeah, especially now that N. Korea has admitted having nukes. But somehow, having a communist nuke power to the north is far better than having Americans in the south.
17 posted on 12/10/2002 8:03:41 AM PST by rintense
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To: rintense
That's the point. The folks protesting the most loudly have more in common with the N. Koreans than with us.
18 posted on 12/10/2002 8:05:26 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: PokeyJoe
The trouble is we can't pull out. These countries are so corrupt that if we pull out, they will find a someone to blame.....that would be us.

Hey, got room in that foxhole?
19 posted on 12/10/2002 8:05:36 AM PST by bulldogs
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To: 1rudeboy
I swear, with all the anti-American crap going on right now, I'm getting more and more of the mind to tell them all to f_ck off. They just don't get the bigger picture. And while we are demonized for being the US, we're also the first country they run to when someone is trying to conquer them. Makes me sick.
20 posted on 12/10/2002 8:08:51 AM PST by rintense
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