Armitage Wraps Up 2-Day Visit

Richard Armitage, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, told senior Korean officials Thursday that U.S. defense planning will be based on a shift of strategic focus from Europe to Asia. Mr. Armitage talked with Defense Minister Kim Dong-shin and Unification Minister Lim Dong-won in separate meetings, and held a roundtable conference with Deputy Foreign Minister Yim Sung-joon and other officials.

A Defense Ministry official briefing the press on the meeting there said Mr. Armitage told Defense Minister Kim that the United States is examining the possibility of a unilateral reduction in nuclear weapons.

According to the ministry official, Mr. Armitage explained that the new defense policies are based on four principles: the shift in strategic focus to Asia; a reduction of military forces positioned in bases abroad and in front line areas; the maintenance of absolute supremacy in military information technologies and enhancing the mobility of U.S. military forces. Some analysts immediately suggested the policy could result in a reduction in U.S. forces stationed in Korea.

Echoing President Kim's theme on Wednesday, the minister reportedly said, "The resumption of U.S.-North Korea talks would give momentum to the deadlocked inter-Korean dialogue."

At the Unification Ministry, Mr. Lim said he was also encouraged to learn of U.S. plans to resume talks with the North. Rhee Bong-jo, head of the unification policy office, said after the meeting that the ministry would work to resume inter-Korean dialogue separate from developments in Washington-Pyongyang relations.

In his roundtable meeting with senior Foreign Ministry officials, Mr. Armitage emphasized that the missile defense is not targeted against Russia or China, but is limited to rogue states.

Ministry officials reiterated their understanding of the reasons for pursuing the shield and called for close consultations.

by Kim Min-seok