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Choi Yearn-hong |
By Choi Yearn-hong
Korea Times Columnist
President Lee Myung-bak had his first summit meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama Wednesday at the White House and it was a great success. Lee's primary mission was recovering and rebuilding the alliance between the two nations, as North Korea is constantly threatening South Korea and the United States with its nuclear power and long-range missiles. It is very important for Lee to ensure that South Korea security is assured by being under the U.S. umbrella.
Some South Korean commentators have regrettably pointed out that there have been "no carrots" offered to North Korea. But they don't yet understand the nature of the Obama policy toward North Korea.
How long should carrots be offered to North Korea? They have proven to be ineffective. Obama, the most liberal political leader in the Democratic Party, evaluated and assessed the North Korean threat and concluded that his policy would not include more rewards. However, he made it very clear that North Korea can choose the right path. The Korean commentators did not see this. Why? I don't understand why they are blind.
Obama said, "I want to be clear that there is another path available for North Korea. A path will lead to peace and prosperity." He added, "But in order to take that path, North Korea has to make a decision and understand that prestige and security and prosperity are not going to come through the path of threatening neighbors and engaging in violations of international law."
The U.S. President said the world will begin "serious enforcement" of sanctions already placed on the North by the U.N. Security Council resolution if Pyongyang continues to be provocative and belligerent.
The Korean leftist politicians and journalists apparently did not hear what Obama said. They do not see anything from Pyongyang. Why is it so difficult for North Korea to take another path? I don't understand.
The Korean leftist politicians and journalists want more carrots for North Korea and they defend the North, whatever it does. They don't see provocation and belligerence; they always justify North Korea's action. They try to understand North Korean action despite its nuclear testing and firing of short- and long range missiles, even though they never try to understand South Korean president Lee Myung-bak's law and order policy.
They opine that Lee is a new dictator, because he is trying to establish law and order in the streets to protect people from violent leftist demonstrations. They never acknowledge the fact that the generous carrots policies of the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun governments failed. That is sad.
Kim and Roh won their presidencies by small margins in their respective presidential elections but they governed as if they won the absolute majority of the vote. They ignored conservative voices and ruled as imperial presidents, but no one said that they were dictators as they do now about Lee. It is unbelievable!
One South Korean leftist leader said the North Korean nuclear bombs are not designed to attack South Korea. How can this be the case? Its ability to attack South Korea is much greater than its ability to hit the U.S. The U.S could easily neutralize North Korean long-range missiles fired across the Pacific. North Korea could take over the South in a week, if there were no U.S. forces or U.S. intervention in Korea, according to the North Korean war plan. However, the Korean leftists do not see it.
President Lee's summit with Obama was a success, because the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement has been brought for Congressional ratification. It is almost there.
The Washington Post's lead editorial, Arts of the Deal, on June 23 described the deal:
"As a candidate, President Obama opposed the agreement. His U.S. trade representative has said the deal `just simply isn't fair.' But that was before North Korea began its current aggressive campaign, the probable goal of which is dividing Seoul and Washington.
Another new development: The U.S. government is on its way to owning 60 percent of General Motors, whose South Korean-based Daewoo subsidiary sold more than 100,000 vehicles in the United States last year.
The Obama administration has adjusted its stated position, saying that it will look for ways to meet U.S. opponents' concerns ― without renegotiating the whole deal ― then reengage with the Koreans. Considering the trade agreement's potential to create jobs for Americans, and to improve ties with a key ally in Asia, that process needs to move quickly."
The editorial contains everything from the Washington summit. The best thing to come from the Washington summit, is the renewal of the relationship between the U.S. and its key Asian ally, which had been lost over the past 10 years in the leftist waves of South Korea.
The writer is a retired college professor after a long career in the U.S. and Korea. The opinion he expresses does not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of The Korea Times.
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