By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday South Korea should act tougher and find the ``right balance'' in dealing with North Korea.

In a speech at Korea University in Seoul, he made a subtle criticism of the Sunshine Policy. He said that ``South Korean governments, over the last three or four presidencies, have reached out with different policies toward North Korea such as the 'Sunshine Policy.' They brought some success but a limited success.''

He argued that North Korea ``really does not have a system that can tolerate changes or modifications to give its people a better life. They have to be in a state of hostility with South Korea or with the United States. You just have to understand that.''

He said the principal goal of North Korean leader Kim Jung-il is to ``stay in power and preserve the regime as it is.''

``It is one of the few countries left in the world that has that kind of attitude. But sooner or later, Chairman Kim will pass on. I don't know what would come after him. I think that each of your government coming in has to make a judgment on how firm it is going to be with in respect to North Koreans. South Koreans should say, we are not going to keep giving (to) you without getting anything in return. So I think you have to be firm with North Koreans.''

He also emphasized, ``You do have to make sure that you are open to dialogue and you are open to supporting them, but only if they've learned it. So it is a dilemma, but it's a dilemma created by North Koreans, not by South Koreans.''

Powell advised: ``Every new South Korean president has to balance how tough to be and how compassionate to be, and not let North Koreans take advantage of either toughness or compassion. You have to find a right balance.''

Powell spoke to a crowd of Korea University students and professors at the school's Centennial Memorial Hall on Friday under the title of U.S.-Korea Relations in a Changing World.

He also offered a comment on South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's upcoming visit to the United States next week.

``There is no doubt in my mind that when your President goes to see President Bush this coming week, he will be greeted warmly,'' he said. ``I think President Lee will come back with a clear understanding that America is Korea's friend and ally and has been for all these years and that is not going to change.''

Powell acknowledged, though, that there would be some disagreements. ``There will be issues: free trade, beef imports. But I would rather have these kinds of debates than matters of war and peace.''

He observed that all three individuals running for the U.S. presidency ― Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain ― would all be ``strong supporters'' of the U.S.-Korean relationship. ``They may argue about the free trade and things like that. That's just domestic politics during an election year. But whichever one becomes the President, I am not at all concerned that there will be any lessening of interest in the U.S.-Korea relationship,'' Powell said.

He also defended the U.S. military presence in the region, while adding that if South Koreans don't want it, "we will go home.''

``If the Korean people want us here, we are here. If they don't want us here, we will go home.''

American military presence in this part of the world is ``occasionally very controversial,'' he said. But Powell defended the U.S. presence by adding, "the American presence in Korea, Japan and other places in the region have worked as a stabilizing force. We are here because it serves both the U.S.' and South Korea's interest. It serves the interests of peace on the peninsula and it serves the interest of peace in the region.''

Powell said he's seen ``ups and downs in U.S.-Korea relations over the years. I've seen serious student demonstrations against our presence. I've seen people wanting us to get out of the Yongsan garrison. I've seen every variation that put U.S.-Korea relations in doubt.''

But through it all, he said, ``Over these many, many years, we've come through all these difficulties. And we have found a way, over all these years, over every one of these crisis, to come up with solutions.''

Powell was the 65th U.S. Secretary of State, serving from 2001 to 2005, and worked under President George W. Bush. Powell also served as National Security Advisor and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.