U.S. Does Not Think Korea Backed Russia On Missile Defense

The United States does not regard the joint statement released by South Korea and Russia after their summit meeting Tuesday as a condemnation of the U.S. proposal for a national missile defense, according to Richard Boucher, U.S. State Department spokesman.

Mr. Boucher noted in a regular press briefing Wednesday that the Korean Foreign Ministry had issued a press release saying that the summit communique does not mention the missile shield and that South Korea has yet to formulate its position on the matter.

He added that the Korean government had explained how phrases related to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty came to be included in the communique.

Mr. Boucher also said that the United States and South Korea have long maintained their alliance and continue to cooperate closely. When President Kim Dae-jung visits Washington next week he will be discussing security issues, including missile defense, with President George W. Bush, the spokesman said.

The briefing put an end at least temporarily to the growing suspicion that South Korea had sided with Russia in opposing the U.S.-led missile defense system. However, the South Korean government continues to find itself having to clarify its position on the matter.

Thus far, its position has been that taking a concrete stance is not necessary since the United States has not demanded anything. A government source said the ambiguous position is warranted since opposing the missile shield will upset the United States while doing the opposite will anger North Korea.

Lee Jong-seok, a resident scholar at the Sejong Insitute said, "Since Russia and China strongly oppose the missile shield, going ahead will heighten tension in Northeast Asia and in inter-Korean relations."

The added difficulty for South Korea, Mr. Lee said, is the fact that one of the reasons the United States started to pursue the missile shield is the perceived threat from "rogue states" such as North Korea.

by Ahn Sung-kyoo